You're doing a great job brother! Proud of you! A picture really is worth a thousand words b/c you can see a big difference.
Couldn't agree with you more about being too stringent on the diet. If you're having fun and enjoying yourself it's much easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you feel like you're depriving yourself of everything you take enjoyment from, it weighs on you mentally and it's much easier to cut corners or quit. I've always preferred the word "lifestyle" instead of saying diet. Diet to me has always had a negative feel to it, like your cutting things out in the future for past transgressions. Lifestyle provides a very positive vibe and gives you the feeling that your all your actions are working together to provide the life you want. I'd love to take credit for this but one of my old boxing trainer's would always say this, and it's stuck with me.
Keep up the great work brother!!