Alright, so I have a problem. I can admit it. I have found that calorie counting is a piece of cake. One of the easiest things I've had to do. Until about 5pm. Then it all goes to the birds.
I eat a healthy breakfast and lunch, and I have good snacks through out the day. But, when I get home for dinner, although it's good for me, I have a huge plate. I just can't seem to bring myself to control my portion. And to top that off, after dinner I eat everything I can in the house, even if I'm full. I can't stop myself. I know I shouldn't, but I do anyway.
I buy lunch snacks for my husband and daughter that I don't like so I won't be tempted to eat them, but I do anyways. Anything I can find I eat. So my healthy 900 calories that I have had until about 5pm go right out the window. I don't even count my dinner and snacks in the evening because what's the point, I know I've gone way over.
Please help me!! I don't know what to do, but it's making me feel horrible.

I feel your pain Steen. I, too, am a snacker. I have been doing better because I leave my calorie counting notebook on the counter next to the frig. I plan a few low cal snacks through out the night and try drinking more (tea, low cal lemonaide, etc). I also try to plan some things to keep myself busy and not thinking about food (bathtub, magazine, moderate exercise, etc). Its sounds like you do the same thing I do - food is something to do. Because if I am not busy and not around food I am fine. Good luck - hang in there!!

Steen- This is the most difficult time for me as well. I can have an excellent day, eat right, exercise... then in the late afternoon it hits me. If I'm not ready for it... it takes me for a real ride. I let it sneak up on me yesterday and the next thing I know I'm diggin' through the pantry and fridge to find anything I can to eat... rather it tastes good to me or not. What a waste of energy! But what I've been trying to do is plan my entire day. I plan what I'll eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. When I plan the ENTIRE day, I have control over myself. If have it written out, I just know this is what I have to eat and that's it. When I'm done, I'm done. I know, easier said than done. So, what do I do to make myself do this... I've re-discovered the things I love to do. So, instead of eat, I write in my blog, play with my daughter, read, draw... whatever you could be doing instead of eating. You may be surprised how it takes your mind off of the snackish feeling.

I know how you feel, I am the same way. Although a lot of times my problem starts MUCH earlier than 5pm. I have a VERY boring job where a lot of time is spent just sitting around looking on the internet (like right now for example) or reading magazines. The vending machine and candy jar are CONSTANT temptations here. And I admit I frequently give in. I'm the same at home, though. I'm one of those people that always feels tired and I want to relax, but the second I relax I get bored and I start thinking about what I can eat. I can eat my dinner and 15 minutes later I'm already snacking. I found that coffee really helps me through it. I get a giant cup in the morning at work, then another giant cup in the afternoon. At night I try to go for tea. It's good because it takes awhile to cool down enough to drink, then it takes a good while to drink it all as well. By the time I'm done I've wasted some time and killed my appetite too. Coffee is my new best friend. My other strategy is to brush my teeth. I can't stand the taste of anything for quite awhile after that!

Are you really eating enough throughout the day, or are you actually very hungry by the time you sit down to dinner? If the latter is the case, you might want to think about eating enough that you're not desperate to fill up when dinner time comes around.

If this isn't the problem, I'm afraid what you need is a kick in the pants!!! Planning and distractions will help, but ultimately if you want to lose weight, you have to really commit to the process and recognize that bingeing in the evenings is not going to help you at all. Weigh, count and measure your way through dinner and allow yourself a single small snack between dinner and bed. MAKE yourself count your dinner and your snacks. Counting not only helps you stay within your calorie allotment, it also helps to keep you accountable. That's it, no excuses!

Another alternative could be to start your day at dinner time. If you have a certain number of calories per day, it may help mentally to sort of start out with your daily calories at dinnertime. Since you use fewer calories for breakfast and lunch, you would know exactly how many you have to work with for those meals because of what you had for dinner.

I have a big problem with evenings as well. I plan what I eat everyday. I make my meals in advance. I make a large portion and separate it into smaller meals. I weigh and chart everything I put in my mouth. I remember it was really hard the first couple weeks. But it has gotten a lot easier. My perception on portions has dramatically changed. I would look at a plate and have thought this was too much food!

I actually really like that idea. It sounds great for a one day off thing if nothing else, like going out for dinner or something.
Steen: I feel your pain. Evenings are by far the most difficult time. As I'm struggling myself, my ideas might not be the best, but here are my thoughts. Are you drinking enough? Keeping hydrated is very very important to keeping appetite under control.
What do you typically have for dinner? Is it food you would concider trigger foods? I know far from everyone, but still quite a lot of us are sensitive to carbs. If I eat a meal that is too low in fat and high in carbs I tend to want to snack afterwards.
Are you tired at night? Sometimes what we really need is to get some rest/sleep, but we end up eating instead.
I hope you will find something that works for you, and when you do please share

The starting-the-day-at-dinner plan could work, but I'd be a bit cautious about it. It would be a horrible thing to wind up in a cycle that begins with too much food in the evening leaving no calories left for the morning and leading to more overeating at dinner and afterwards to make up for being hungry all day. You'd have to be certain that you left yourself enough calories for breakfast, lunch and snacks.

I focus on food a lot, and one thing that helped me is cooking more complicated, but healthy, meals. The food prep keeps me busy, and I like planning everything out. When I'm bored at work, I'll often search the web for yummy recipes and plan some kind of exciting meal with several components that all link together, to make when I get home. However, if you're cooking for others, it might be harder to take longer to make dinner, because they need to eat.

Another thing, which may not be helpful for you because it sounds like you get cravings for different things: my big evening problem is often that when I watch TV or read or whatever, I have a craving to be munching on something. So, I try to keep a lot of fresh crisp raw vegetables on hand, because then I can munch on celery/peppers/carrots as much as I want, but it doesn't really affect my calorie counting very much. Maybe that will help?

I often have problems with eating in the evening also.
One thing that I've found that helps is making a list of things to do besides eating. If I can keep myself occupied until bedtime, I don't find myself gravitating toward the kitchen.

I also, really like the idea of starting the day with dinner.

I am a boredom eater so evenings are a problem for me as well. When I was with my boyfriend it could get very ugly because he always ate dinner really late (about 9pm sometimes even later) and I would be STARVING when I got home - would raid the fridge and then eat dinner again when he came over. Hence gaining 10 pounds over the year or so we were together.

We broke up about 2 months ago and I've already lost 8 of those 10 pounds by going back to calorie counting BUT the biggest difference I have made was changing my dinner time to 6pm - 7pm - right on my "munchiest" time of the evening. Either just after I get home from work or just after I get home from the gym. I am full after dinner and not inclined to snack. Works a treat.

I just would suggest eating every three hours during the day and make sure your snacks and meals are full of protein and fiber, that way your stomach is always content. Then when dinner comes you will be able to eat respectable portions. There are some great ideas above, I believe scenestealers idea is great.

RECORD WHAT YOU EAT EVEN WHEN YOU GO OFF PLAN

The biggest tool I had to stop the binge cycle was to record everything even if I binged. One the very act of recording was a signal to stop, two, I didnt beat myself up and then continue to eat, three - it often wasnt as bad as I thought.

Agree with Ennay 100%. Write it down. Even if it is a lot. Denial does more to cause weight gain than weight loss. Knowing that you will be writing it down (even if it is ugly!) may give you pause.

It is HARD to break bad habits. I recently kicked a habitual weekly binge. The first time I decided I would NOT binge (no matter what, even if it killed me.....surprise! It didn't), the first time was SOOOOOO hard. You'd think I was trying to kick a crack addiction. Obsession, grief, a mental temper tantrum!

But I kicked it. And every week has gotten easier. Break the habit. The first night will be the hardest, but you can make yourself follow your plan. You are the only one with the power to do so, and you do have that power. Seize the power!!!