Fat burning I'd rely on HIIT. However I'm quite lucky as I'm very much a mesomorph and so bulking whilst keeping low body fat happens quite easily. However my diet is extremely good. I don't eat any sweets, crisps, naughty cakes (doughnuts, etc...)... it's filled with lots of high protein, low fat, lots of vegetables and fish. I eat very little bread, don't drink alcohol, or fizzy drinks (coke etc...). That alone has helped me before I've even got to the gym.
My gym routines are brutal, and regular and regimented. I'm quite in touch with what my body needs and how it reacts to exercises. I mix powerlifting, with bodybuilding. On my "off" days, I play an hour of squash twice a week, and sometimes go swimming or play basketball. I'm very active.
Your cutting diet seems worrying but I think you were just exaggerating - at least I hope you were.
What exactly are you after? Improved strength? Fitness? Bulk? Or shred yourself to pieces? Or all of the above? I myself am not bothered about being overly shredded, but my fitness, strength and bulk (as well as flexibility) are my main goals and so work towards that. Don't over complicate what you want.
You are very slim (I don't see the podge you refer to) but reasonably broad for your build, then again you're quite tall - I'd have put you as an ectomorph really rather than anything else.
Get your plans in your mind, work on your diet and think of a routine you need and want to improve on. You just seem a little "all over the place" to me at the moment. But it's probably just me. :O
If you want to cut whilst maintaining your muscles I hear HIIT is the best way to do it, but still lifting heavy in between. I'm not an expert on cutting really so I can't help you.
Don't get me wrong you're obviously in the process of developing yourself and you have potential I'm just not clear on where you want to go!
