I lost over 40 lbs by way of fasting a couple years ago. I spent an entire summer eating sub-600 calories a day and it was stressful, painful, and very hard on my body. The side effects of my severe fasting was an increased appetite for over a year, as the body naturally tries to regain the lost mass. When dieting for weeks on end my body became much more efficient at processing calories, so even a year after my weight loss I needed to consume less than 2000 calories a day or I would gain the weight back. Even now (2 years out), eating 2200 calories in a day will make me feel bloated and I'll feel some extra fat when I pinch my neck the next morning.
The right way to lose weight is to eat 1400-1500 cals per day and go on runs every other day, for me a 40 minute run was the sweet spot. I learned this the hard way, so I really urge anyone to use exercise as their main means of weight loss. Combine it with moderate dieting or even fasting for less than 8 hours at a time.
If you're not willing to exercise to get a nice body or be healthy, then you don't genuinely want to lose weight.
EDIT: It's important to point out that everyone's body is different, and every person's limits and needs vary. What is important is to keep our bodies moving whenever possible, especially as we age. That's what our ancestors did for hours on a daily basis, as little as a hundred years ago. If you don't exercise regularly, then start going on walks around town (I listen to the Bombcast while walking around Oakland/Berkeley/SF). Stand up on the bus/subway or when you're watching something. As long as you're moving, you're doing what your body was built for.
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