First off let me say. The two biggest contributors to weight loss are diet and cardio.

Why higher reps while dieting you ask. In simple terms, it is for toning not building. Toning (high reps are very important if you are only trying to shred bodyfat, such as circuit training). Here is an example of how it can be used. I will concentrate on circuit training. You can't get much more extreme for high reps than circuit training. Ok, say you went running for 30 minutes, it takes 20 - 30 minutes to get your heart rate up high enough to burn the stored bodyfat. Now if you switch to a circuit training workout (you move continuously between many exercises with little or no rest) you almost mimic that of a cardio workout while at the same time doing resistance exercises. I will agree with you on one front. Increased muscle tissue means you burn more calories, therefore in a way you increase metabolism and lose weight. The thing is at this point their is already stored fat on the body. The fastest way to lose that stored fat is to get your heart rate for more than 20 to 30 minutes and burn it off. You have to remember if you are doing high reps you aren't suppose to spend 3 minutes resting between sets like a lot of people do when they lift heavy. I have personal trained from four years, and I have a Bachelor's of Science in Kinesiology. I'm not just pulling this out of my ass. It has worked time and time again for myself, my clients, and everyone else I have written programs for. If more proof is needed, I will pull up all of the scientific proof you would like.

If you are starving yourself you are making a huge mistake. I agree with BigWill. I usually take about a 10% cut on my calorie intake and get much stricter with my diet. If I hit another sticking point I increase cardio, eat stricter, and/or cut my calorie intake again.