Whey can raise insulin pretty much I've read. I take it year round, usually 4x per day. A little in the morning with raw milk/eggs/berries/avocado in a smoothie, pre and post workout and before bed in raw milk. Pretty much the same on diet, without the carbs and with less fat.

I've been using the same whey isolate protein for the last 10 years (best tasting ever), very high quality and sometime I throw a odd random whey Isolate from another manufacturer to add a little variety. I still cannot be 100% sure they had carbs in it, but the clerk said to my training partner (learned this 2 days ago) they only got this protein for a one shot deal sale promo and he said it's absolute crap! A huge oversight of me vs my habits.

The problem with me starting with a higher BF% this year is due to last year diet: I've failed royally. Last year, I started at 197lbs and it was going so bad that I had to call it off after 2 months, ended-up with me starting to resume off season diet at 193lbs. So it was hard to stay lean when I did not actually got lean, insulin sensibility was far from being optimal. This year dieting went much better, even better then in 2012 (I went down to 173lbs that year) and will be able to start my off season leaner, so it will easier to stay leaner. I already looking forward next year's diet to lean even more.

Also I will try a different carb protocol this year and I think it will help me lean even better next year.

Yes I agree it all comes down to what the mirror says and this is why I've asked about BF% because the mirror says I should have leaned more then when I actually have, suggesting my LBM went down.

Eric