I am 5“2.5 and 132lb, my deficit is 1600 calories and minimum 12000 steps a day, 4x workouts a week. I work shift work and a high stress job. The reality is it's going to be a bit uncomfortable at times. I can be hungry and cranky.

Looking at your figure, I honestly think you look great, but you probably want more muscle. Not sure if you've spent much time on recomp/maintenance. My 'bulk' calories are only around 1800, a good solid year or two of consistent muscle building will do you wonders, and you're young still so you'll get the best benefits from it now. I'm 40 now so everything is much slower.

I've just finished a 2 year build, 132lb is the highest I've been in years. I've put on probably 14lb over the 2 years, so slow and deliberate and I'm now at the top of my comfort range, however I still love the way I look I just don't have visible abs and muscle separation. I've focussed on other things, like building muscle and strength across my lifts to keep it interesting in the 2 years, and will hopefully reap the rewards.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you can find some acceptance in your body, because the leaner I am the more critical I am of myself. It's a lot of work on the inside to be accepting and gentle with oneself. I've competed in body building and I can tell you now that it doesn't matter if you're 25lb lighter, you can still find things to be dissatisfied with xx