Getting fit can be a big life change, especially if you have never done it before. Even if you are used to a fitness routine, sometimes it can get somewhat boring and you need a change. Here are a few tips for both the beginner and the experienced fitness aficionado who wants to jump-start their fitness routine.

If you’re trying a fitness routine on for size, make sure your shoes fit the bill too! Buy your workout shoes at the end of a workday when your feet are at their largest. This way, your shoes will fit throughout your workout routine as your muscles stretch. It will also ensure that your leg muscles are properly supported.

If you want to get better results from your fitness routine, measure your progress — literally. When you need motivation for a goal, pick something related to the goal for which you can track statistics, like your body fat, your waist size or the distance you can comfortably run. Take measurements regularly and write them down, so you can quantify exactly how close you are to your goal. This technique has been shown to improve motivation, as it helps people believe in the reality of their accomplishments.

To stay fit it’s important to break bad food habits. While a healthy diet contributes greatly to overall fitness, it can be one of the hardest goals to achieve. Most people enter a fitness program accustomed to eating unhealthy foods. This is a habit that can be broken. The quicker the fitness enthusiast acclimates to a healthy diet the faster cravings for junk food will disappear.

Anyone taking up a fitness regime knows how important it is to keep going once you’ve started. Use these tips as a foundation for your fitness program. Fitness is great for your entire body and you’ll find that you fall asleep more easily and feel more energetic. Stay fit and you’ll feel better all your life.