I count calories to make sure I don't go above 1400.

I'm trying to quit too. People don't realize it becomes an addiction. You just know the calories in everything, and it's impossible to stop. So to answer your question, I used to count up until about a month ago. I was getting to skinny, but I'm doing better now, but in the back of my mind, there's always counting going on. Still, I hope within a few months I'll be able to  break the habit for good. The best thing I did was start eating things that didn't have the calorie contents posted on them (ex. Fruit/veggies, nuts, meat, certain cheese). Even though I already had the numbers memorized, it was just a little bit easier not to obsess when they're not right in front of your nose. Plus, the foods that don't come with in packages tend to be healthier and less processed, always a plus. Good luck, I know it's hard!