I'm not suggesting that anyone follow a bulking diet, but following a cutting diet would work and isn't extreme.
For example a diet of 10-30% carbs, 40-50% protein, 30-40% fat, with a 400Kcal deficit isn't extreme by any measure! That kind of die, avoiding alcohol and sugar, seems pretty reasonable?
Suggesting that an average person tries the extreme diet of a body builder of putting on excess fat and then trying to "cut" it is really bad advice.