Confused about calorie intake

xxthoroughbred

I know this has been asked several times before but I can't find it through the search function.

I'm trying to lose about 10 lbs and am at about 22% BF right now. I'd like to get to about 17-19% BF - I definitely want more muscle definition. So do I go with a calorie deficit, do lots of cardio and then start increasing calories and lifting heavy after I drop the weight? Is it essentially pointless (looks-wise, anyway) to lift while on a calorie deficit? If I eat more than maintenance and lift heavy, will I see that weight drop off?

I just don't know the best way of going about this. I feel like if I eat more, I won't see that weight drop off unless I'm doing some heavy duty lifting. But when I drop my calories, I feel like I'm starving my body of any chance of getting muscle.

xxthoroughbred

Anyone?