It doesn't matter how hard I tried, I could never gain any appreciatable amount of muscle without th fat gain. After cutting, I'd be right back where I started as far body composition. I've tried several times over the last 20 years, making changes here and there to macros, overall calories, training styles etc with no luck.
It wasn't until a few years ago I started using hgh and realized that was my golden ticket to keeping fat down and putting on muscle. Now I'm approaching 42 y.o..I have no desire to put my body through that hell again and I'm fine just maintaing and being healthy.