Whoever told you that you couldn't do any cardio, because it would kill performance, is blowing smoke up your ass. Performance will get negatively affected by diet and continuous defecit.
That's why for your situation I would recommend high cal/ high carb days (workout days) followed by lower cal lower carb days with some cardio on those days. Alternate these days. It works like a charm for recomp. You will get bigger stronger, and leaner. I've been doing it a LONG TIME. I'm not a power lifter at all, yet I have powerlifting caliber numbers. I bench 2x bodyweight for example. Not bad for a bodybuilder I dont think.
That's why for your situation I would recommend high cal/ high carb days (workout days) followed by lower cal lower carb days with some cardio on those days. Alternate these days. It works like a charm for recomp. You will get bigger stronger, and leaner. I've been doing it a LONG TIME. I'm not a power lifter at all, yet I have powerlifting caliber numbers. I bench 2x bodyweight for example. Not bad for a bodybuilder I dont think.