Diets aren't about deprivation - so old fashioned!
Plan a sensible long term healthy eating pattern that suits you, This may mean eating some more vegetables, or fewer biscuits, enough to satisfy you without gaining weight. Once you are used to and happy with that pattern, then reduce the quantities you are eating so that your daily intake is about 1200 calories a day. If this is a struggle for a long period do one week reduced calorie eating, one week ordinary eating.
Make absolutely sure that you have an eating pattern that never leaves you feeling deprived.
Then once you get to your desired weight you drift gently away from the reduced calorie eating to sustainable eating, with out cravings.
I essentially did this about 6 years ago, structuring my eating plan around the 5;2 diet. I lost 2 stone and have not put it back on.