It's hard to tell much from those two pictures.... but I'm taking your word for it. I'm going through a similar phase vis a vis gut reduction, and it seems to come after the hips and thighs start to thin out and muscle up. In any case it sure feels satisfying doesn't it? And good work!
Sample of my aero belly last winter at about 216-218 pounds:
Weighed in at 206 the other day and hope the new version will look more like
