Macros

I wouldn't worry too much about macros when starting out, and more focus on overall calorie limit.

But, to try to explain, let's see if I can be of assistance:

1g of protein = 4 calories
1g of carbs = 4 calories
1g of fat = 9 calories

So for example, if my macros split is 147 Protein, 50 Carbs and 75 Fat (don't copy this - I'm using this example because it's right in front of me as I was helping a friend with a LCHF diet kicker-offer). This means that the total calories will be 1470. 147g of protein = 589 calories, 50g of carbs = 200 calories and the left over 674 calories are made up of 75g fat.

The problem comes when you choose certain entries in the diary database that are incorrect - sometimes an entry won't have the macros breakdown and just give you calories. So ALWAYS check the entry to see if the macros split is there, if you can't just scan a barcode. Also, try to choose entries which are USDA for foods.

So you can be within your macros quite easily (well - it's not THAT easy to be extremely precise, but within a 5-10g window is fine) as well as within you calorie budget. It just takes playing around with and pre-logging foods is also very helpful.

Hope this helps?

Close is fine for macros.

Only calories matter for weight management . . . but of course, macros matter for nutrition. It's probably not a good idea to be consistently under your protein or fat goal by large amounts, as those are essential nutrients your body can't manufacture from other intake.

In that sense, carbs are less important, because if you eat less of those, your body has ways to break down protein or fat intake, or stored fat, or use stored glycogen in your body, in order to basically manufacture the part of carbs it really needs.

Carbs aren't bad for you, they don't make you gain weight (within an appropriate calorie goal) but neither is it nutritionally essential that you eat a certain amount of them. Some people do have a medical reason to limit them in some way (such as diabetes), and some people find that eating less of them helps reduce their appetite; but other people find that their energy level plummets if they don't get enough carbs, or they need certain high-carb foods in order to feel full.

That "what level of carbs is right for me" stuff is very individual, but you'll figure it out as you go along, if you pay attention to how you feel, and see how that matches up with patterns in your eating.

No need to over-stress about hitting everything exactly, in any case.

Best wishes!