VFE,
1)I'm not sure if there is any evidence that exercising at different times of the day makes any difference to weight loss.
2)Ideal calories ? depends who you ask ! Also depends on what you are doing. (You don't see many fat road diggers).
3)Celery, tomatoes, cucumber sounds good. Exercise caution eating these late at night, the stomach can be a bit reluctant to empty these foods sometimes, causing acid indigestion and heartburn. (Cucumber/tomatoes are particually known for this).
Try not to eat within 4 hrs of bed time, and chew your food well, let your teeth do the work. Try combatting hunger pangs with a glass of water. Its not as much fun as a chicken chow mein, but you will soon get used to it.
4) Ideal exercise regime ? Again depends on who you ask. Its like trying to land a cessna - everyone has got there own opinion ?
MOst of all, its got too be enjoyable, 20 mins of something that makes you short of breath, 3 times a week, is a good start, particually if you are noit used to exercising. Northern highflyer hits the nail on the head- its got to be aerobic (ie it makes you pant) for it to work. If you are so breathless, that you can't talk, then you are probably doing too much.
5) !
Good luck