If im cutting then I generally run a keto diet combined with cardio once a day for 45 minutes. Biggest key is your heart rate when doing cardio. Too low and its in effective, too high and your body becomes catabolic and burns muscle tissue as opposed to fat deposits. Maintain a heart rate between 125 and 135 for around 45minutes and it will drop off. I personally use a cross trainer; i'll pop a movie on the psp and it passes by in no time.
With regard to diet, try lowering your carb intake. Foods such as white pasta, bread etc can hold up to 4grams of water for every gram you consume. Try and limit your carb intake to before and after training - Slow digesting 'complex carbs' like brown pasta etc followed by quick digesting carbs 'simple carbs' such as dextrose etc along with protein post training. I avoid pasta and bread as I know how tolerable I am to bloat and weight gain. Its all about trying to see how your body reacts really.
Also, dont get tied down with calorie counting, 2000 calories is irrelevant if you're eating 8 mars bars a day. Keep your protein levels high, carbs relatively low and good fats (omega 3, 6, 9) up. I personally eat 8 meals a day, regardless as to whether im on or off diet, its what makes up them meals that counts.
Some one aloso mentioned High Intensity weight training, this works really well too. Muscle tissue usually takes 3 days to repair itself, all the time you're muscle is being repaired, your body is burning calories.
