Thanks man, I appreciate it. You're probably right about my bf %, I hadn't really considered the possibility that it may look lower simply because higher muscle mass from bulking tends to show through more. I didn't test my bf % at the end of my bulk because I was disappointed by how much fat I'd gained (I usually stay quite a bit leaner while bulking) and didn't really want to see an actual number telling me how badly I'd messed up. Haha if I'd seen a 13-14% I'd have been super pissed at myself.

And I will definitely agree that going from 12% to 10% is as difficult as it would be to go from 20% to 12%. Everyone's body has a homeostasis level of bf % that it tries to maintain, which will make it easier to lose bf if you're currently above that level and harder to lose bf when you're at or below that level.

I've been down to 10% each of the last three summers, at least according to caliper tests. I know calipers aren't as accurate as a DEXA scan, but I can't bring myself to pay that much money for a DEXA scan just to have a more accurate idea as to my bf %. If I was competing and wanted to use the information to tweak my contest prep, it would be worth it, but paying money just for more accurate bragging rights always seemed like a waste to me. I get down to my summer physique by cutting really hard for a few weeks (2000 calorie deficit) while doing two workouts a day, and then maintain that over the summer by eating slightly below maintenance while keeping my protein intake disproportionately high. I have an adderall prescription, so while the few weeks of not eating much definitely aren't fun, I get through it without dealing with hunger pains or an overpowering desire to eat. Sounds like a lot to go through, but to be honest it really isn't that difficult if you've decided it's what you want to do - I'm a professional who has to work about 50 hours/week on average, am married with a kid, and still find it relatively easy to maintain the diet and gym routine. You just have to decide what it is that you want, and whether you're willing to do what's necessary to achieve it. Once you've made that decision, the rest is just following through.