Counting is not really necessary as long as you are losing well. If you stall or just stop losing, the data collected while tracking can be helpful in figuring out patterns of why you stall. Hopefully, though, you won't need that. And if you do, you can start tracking then.

I started low carb with South Beach where tracking is discouraged. I lost great for about 3 months and then sort of floundered on how to get losing again. In retrospect, I wish I'd tracked. When I started Atkins, I counted religiously for the first 6 or so months, then slacked off. I do find that tracking every mouthful makes me think twice about snacks and those snacks make the difference between losing and maintaining for me.

I've just been through a stressful period where I did not track and relaxed my eating somewhat. I also gained 6 lbs. I'm now back to more normal living and will start tracking again as I try to get the 6 lbs - and more - off once and for all.