Following is probably the best way to get followers, but you're right, it does make your account less attractive, but for most people it's the only way to get enough followers. You follow a bunch of people, which causes them to get a notifications and then hopefully they check out your profile and follow you back. Then after a while you unfollow everyone.
Liking other peoples pictures works the same way, but there is less of a chance they will follow you. I know from personal use of instagram that if someone follows me, I always check their profile, but I very rarely check if someone just likes my photo.
If you can gain followers by liking and commenting, then great, keep at it, but because you're losing followers, then I'd suggest you try and increase the quality of your content, and maybe start following some people.