What a great post from the OP.
Many of my feelings exactly.
Diets are a "fad" Meaning going on a diet to lose weight doesn't make sense if you put it back on after going off the diet.
Diet in the other sense of the word is eating properly. Healthy foods, no "grazing" on snacks in-between meals. Lean meats, vegetables, fruits, no white flour products and simply maintain and weigh what your BMI calls for.
My main meal is dinner, I try not to eat before that but if I do, I love organic skim milk and shredded wheat plus a piece of fruit.
One day a week, such as a Saturday night dinner "anything goes" if I wish to eat something more fatty, like a pasta or pizza night or whatever when I go out to eat with my wife, even though, many times I eat fish at Bonefish grill. I have come to like eating fish more than a few times a week now, easily bought in Sam's Club or Costco, I prefer frozen flounder, my wife buys fresh Salmon or Trout for herself.
I will even eat a homemade hamburger once a month or so, but when I do, the chopmeat is normally 95% lean with the American Heart Association sticker on it.
Im not perfect by any means, I actually have to lose a little weight right now but I changed my diet so much, to lose, I just need to stop grazing on fruits and nuts and right away it starts coming down. I do try to stick to my BMI for my height and like the OP, you feel great when you do.