Go4, I'm sure you know this stuff already so accept it as a refresher course.
We GetBiggers can discuss and argue dieting and 'getting ripped' until the skinny cows come home ... but basically it's a simple mathmaticle understanding of The Energy Balance Equation .... with additional comments and recommendations offered by various, but limited, individuals who have managed to sacrifice health and happiness and some exceptionally good meals to reach a body-fat level of 8 to 6% or even less.
Bodyfat loss is easy to accomplish if one determines to get it done, but losing muscle while losing fat is something that could best be discussed by the likes of Che and LeafyBug for example who seem to get it accomplished without difficulty when their mind was set to do so.
Somewhere on my hard-drive I have an exceptionally good and detailed explanation of the Energy Balance Equation which I'll look for if anyone is interested.
Understanding that "equation'" along with some been-there-done-that advice will rip you up more than you ever thought possible.
Back in the good old days when we were relatively stupid, we'd do our best to get ripped by consuming cans of tuna after wringing it completely dry using a nylon stocking.
And a few years later ... consuming little more than raw fish for 8 to 10 weeks.
But now that bodybuilders have smartened up a bit, they simply follow the creed of the Energy Balance Equation and listen to the advice of their few good friends who have been there and returned .... for very few remain there for extended lengths of time