It must have something to do with this time of year. The temperature gets warmer, and the clothes get smaller. Sometimes, smaller means tighter. When things are popping out in places they shouldn't be, our first thought is that we have to diet. Sure, there is never a bad time to change your habits and turn your life around, but there are bad ways to do it. The desired end result is the same for the most of us: fat loss and muscle gain. The road we take to get there may look very different from the next person, though. Don't be discouraged if you are doing it completely different from someone else, it doesn't mean you will do better or worse than them. Everyone is different, and we all will see different results.
The main thing you need to worry about is your health. You only have one body, and you (hopefully) want it to last you a while. The best way to make sure you will have a good quality of life in the body you have is by treating it right. Nourishing your body with the essential nutrients and vitamins is key. Food is meant to be treated as fuel, not a treat. Our bodies are made to thrive off of the right foods, so don't take that for granted. You wouldn't put cheap, conventional oil in a brand new vehicle, so think of your body in the same way. Natural, organic foods are the best for your body, along with lean proteins and complex carbs.
IIFYM is a very popular nutrition plan followed by body builders and Instagram fitness gurus. If you have an account on My Fitness Pal, you have probably heard of IIFYM, or "If It Fits Your Macros." By tracking your macronutrients consumed daily, you can make sure you are eating the right ratio of fat to protein to carbohydrates in order to lose fat. This way of life has brought hope to carb lovers everywhere, because it stresses how important carbs are to burning fat while working out. In a world where carbs are the enemy, IIFYM has changed the way many of us think about macros.
"Fad" diets are another way to lose weight that most people are more familiar with. Most promise fast weight loss, with little effort; these claims bring many desperate people to the table. Fad diets are defined by eating plans that are usually restrictive or exclusive, banning certain foods or suggesting that you eat one kind of food for a determined amount of time. Those are the fad diets that you need to avoid at all costs. There are other diets that have been considered "fad" but aren't dangerously restrictive, like the GM Diet and the Military Diet. These kinds have a detailed food plan that you are supposed to stick to, and some people find great success.
As long as you listen to your body and make sure you are getting the nourishment you need, you are doing fine. Do I suggest intermittent fasting, even though "scientists" have claimed it's not harmful? Heck no. I don't stand behind any diet that suggests you should starve, or "fast" as they call it. Just do your best, and don't be too hard on yourself. Realize that we are all only human, and that means we are not perfect. If you get too caught up in trying to lose weight you may just hurt yourself more mentally, and even physically. Take it day by day, and find the right balance for yourself. As long as you feel good in your body, that is all that matters.