Just a thought Pete ... I think 200-300 carbs is not low enough for a fat loss diet. I feel a diet regimen of 60/30/10 is the best program to follow in a precontest prep. of course depending on how much lean muscle mass a person has and their BMR I would say no more than 150 grms a day . I believe that would be around 2k calories or a bit more .... most people may need to drop more calories than that even .

As far as time to stop eating carbs would be at least 3 hours b4 sleep time . The argument here is that carbs regardless of complex or simple are sugar in the body ( quick calories ) the theory is to stop giving the body the quick calories at a point of relaxation or evening time were most of us are sitting . making the last meal a straight protein like 4 oz chicken breast ,,, Sci fit beef stick ( 60 cal 15 grm protein 1 carb 380 sodium ( ouch )) or protein shake w/water . The body still getting some calories to run deriving by way of a protein supposedly supplying an needed amino stores and forcing the body to utilize fat stores to be used for energy .
When starting a precontest regimen some BB add evening cardio at night 1-2 hours after this last protein meal, thereby kicking up the fat burning process then morning hitting it again waiting one hour b4 eating after the mornings cardio .... ( The old Cybergenics ideology... )
A Trade secret told to me by Craig Titus last weekend was
regarding the question I rose regarding going catabolic and burning muscle instead of the intended fat . He stated taking Glutamine right before sleeping on an empty stomach works wonders from going catabolic.... I as of yet have not tried this yet , but sounded interesting..... Hope this helps.... Good luck everyone....