Belly fat

While I'm in the general physical preparation phase of training I can't help but think about the difficulty of getting the weight down.

My BMI is 27 and I would like to get it down to 24 by the time I get to competition.
That would require me to lose 23 lbs! (or grow to 6'4" - daaah! that's not it.).
Whew, can't imagine what 178 pounds will feel like again.
Timing will be crucial because I don't know how maintenance would effect my competition training.

The training I have down, now it's going to be experimenting with the proper diet.
The challenge is to maintain the muscle and lose only fat. So I will need sufficient protein and fat, but watch my timing on the carbs.

According to my food journal, it's not a quantity problem but a quality problem.
More natural foods; fresh vegetables, and home cooked meals. Keep an eye on the sugars.