If you just need to lose a few pounds, then you will probably not want a diet that is too extensive. Though I do not recommend them, most people in this situation usually go on some sort of "fad" diet that will cause them to lose weight from a reduction in calories. These diets do work, but you should be aware of the problems that come along with them:

First
Studies have shown that the majority of people who use these diets, will gain the weight back. Often times, they will gain back more than they lost. This is a consequence that most people do not consider. They drink a weight loss shake, or eat a special food for a few months and lose a large amount of weight, but what happens when it's time to go back to regular food? Most people usually start gaining weight again.

Fad diets will definitely help you lose weight quickly if you eat their foods, but what happens when you go back to the real world? You will most likely go back to your old eating habits. You cannot remain on that type of diet forever, and sooner or later you will have to face real food again. They do not prepare you for this. Most fad diets work. The question is only how long can you maintain the results.

Any successful weight loss will require a permanent change in eating habits. A good program should not only help you lose fat, it should also help you to develop the correct eating habits necessary to maintain your new body.

Second
You will lose more muscle mass than body fat. Now, you may say, "It does not matter as long as I'm thin", but understand that muscle burns more calories than fat -- this helps to keep your metabolism elevated. Muscle also gives you a shapely, firm and more defined physique.

If you end up with less muscle than when you started, you can bet that your metabolism has been slowed a great deal, which, in the long run, means your body will be burning fewer calories and storing more fat.

Ultimately, you may get down to the weight that you desire, but you will have more body fat, less muscle mass and no muscle tone. This is why people who have a history of dieting off and on (yo-yo dieting), will lose weight and look thinner, but still remain very soft or "jiggly". You know them because of their waving triceps. This type of dieting is notorious for weakening the immune system.

Part two