I wouldn't forget the long game. A year comes round awfully fast. The long game is to be healthy and strong. Its hard to retain strength and muscle bulk on a calorie deficit without taking something something like test or ostarine.

Body builders bulk and cut for shows but they acknowledge its not the healthiest thing to do. If you do cut, what next? Unless you are your ideal size and strength then, there is nowhere to go next but back on a calorie surplus and bulk up again and regain what you lost in the cut. If looks are everything and you are going on a beach holiday, the cut might make sense but over the years, the long game will put you further ahead. Starved men are rarely the best company for the ladies. It makes a good photo to send to your mum but the whole healthy happy man is more attractive than just the appearance.

What's the better appeal for a man?

depends where you're at.

I'm currently skinny fat mostly and I'm short.

usually cut first and get a slim face

So here it is man very simple fix:

1. Diet: 1g protein/lb of bodyweight. Every day except cheat day. Play around w carbs/fats; rn aside from hitting my protein eat about 100g carbs and rest of cals come from healthy fats.

2. If you’re skinny fat you need to up your intensity in gym big time. Quit lifting bitch weights. If you physically can’t then you need to keep gradually pushing until you can. This means like my end of your sets you should be trying so fucking hard that you’re almost shaking. (You should still be able to control the weights though; no need for ego lifting). Proper form done to exhaustion. Rinse repeat.

3. I go for a quick 30min fasted cardio in the morning. For steps I’ve begun to implement breaks throughout my study grind where I go walk on a treadmill for like 10min on incline. Aim for 1 of these breaks every hour or two and that + the cardio + the weights will get u right.

4. Abs already exist even h have em they’re just not that developed. Dragon flags, reverse incline weighted sit-ups, cable crunches, abduction twister, ab wheel. every day unless you’re too sore to complete them.

Imo it’s better to cut first to at least 12% bodyfat fat as this will give you a very solid grasp of what you are really looking like when you’re lean (what muscles are undeveloped and whatnot). get there once; then work in bulking n shit. Small tweaks like hitting the protein and pushing hard in gym will 100% correct that skinny fat bullshit. Then just bulk to like 15% and cut back down to 12; maybe 10%. Bulk back up rinse repeat.

Unless if you’re injured or something you should avoid going above 15% bodyfat as a man.

it's just too long of a proccess.

There are no shortcuts.

You're also thinking about this kind of wrong. This should be a lifestyle, which you will do for the rest of your life, not just for a few months until you start getting laid.

Just eat healthy, well-balanced, testosterone-boosting foods and avoid processed garbage, and train hard and consistently. As long as you look and feel muscular, and not soft, it doesn't matter if you're bulky or shedded; women will be into you.