Really want to start journey in fat loss and strength gaining but feel very lost due to lack of clear direction from all the contradicting advice I read

I am 22, male, 6'0 and 195 lbs. I currently look like this. Better late than never so here I am, ready to make changes but with no idea what to do. I graduate college in 9 months and I think that would give me a nice amount of time and create a noticeable difference between now and then. I just want to get some nice recomposition going (better muscle to fat ratio). So seeing benefits in overall strength, looks, feeling of health etc. would be cool. Target body is something like this, cliche I know, but I like the look of the toned arms without being huge Incredible Hulk, nice flat belly and good abs but not shredded beyond belief. Just a nice overall strong beach body look. Obviously I won't achieve this in 9 months but I would love to have clear noticeable progression towards that look.

My current plan is to cut junk food and ice cream, eat more whole foods. Eat >150g a protein a day to maintain/build muscle mass. I calculated macros for a mild deficit and got about 2200 calories if active. Exercise plan is just move more, go for bike rides, body weight exercises and once I get to college in 3 weeks I am paying a personal trainer to get me on a good lifting program like maybe Stronglifts 5x5 or Push Pull Legs and show me the do's and don'ts and then I can work alone at the gym and just check in with the trainer periodically so I don't go broke and get input on my progress.

I'm confused because some people say if I simply burn fat by eating less calories and exercise more I will lose muscle mass too and just become weaker AND skinnier and making bulking even harder someday. But if I start bulking, that additional muscle comes with additional fat on top of my already preexisting fat which I would be very hesitant to do.

Some say you can make beginner gains lifting in a deficit and still build good muscle and burn fat. Others say it's not possible and you gotta scarf down calories and lift and then cut later on. I just don't know what to do. I mean, 9 months of hard effort sweating and lifting and watching your diet has got to amount to something, right? I'd even be willing to exercise 6-7 days a week and go hardcore if you think I can do it.

The fitness world is filled with so much controversial claims and conflicting ideas, can anyone shed some light on if my plan will work? Or what changes would you make?

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