When it comes to exercising, there are people who go to the gym and there are people who don't. Those who don’t go to the gym usually prefer isolation and exploration in their work outs. Whether they utilize home equipment or go on runs through hiking trails, individuals are more than capable of living a fit lifestyle while never stepping foot in a gym. Those of us who go to the gym usually require more flexibility in their workout and a certain gym atmosphere. Gym people like having a variety of machines, weights, and recreational facilities at their disposal. When gym goers walk in and see someone pushing through an interval training circuit or benching heavy with great form, it motivates them.

A difficulty many gym goers struggle with from time to time is that sometimes we abruptly stop going. A big project comes up at work, an old friend moves back to town, a relationship starts, and suddenly we can't recall the nice employees name at the front desk.

A few months ago, I was lucky if I got to the gym once a week. I started working more hours than I have ever had before and found myself coming directly home from work and going to sleep cuddled up to Netflix.

After college I put on a ridiculous amount of weight and I started cutting down. The job I held last year let us opt out for our lunch and hit the gym instead. I would get to play racquetball with my co-workers, relieve some office stress, and be home and fit by 5:45. I was focused and going to the gym at least 4 times a week.

I chose to leave that job as I didn't see myself reaching my full potential there or passionate about my work. It was the right move for me but I was struggling to maintain a steady workout regiment without the incentive offered by my old job. I knew I had to take a little bit of a different approach if I were to get motivated again. Here's what helped me get back to the gym:

I got an "expensive" membership:

At first, that might sound odd to some. Planet Fitness charges a base fee of $10 a month for the use of their facilities. There’s no doubt in my mind that there are people who go to these types of gyms every day and gain great results. However, Planet Fitness relies on most of their member’s hardly ever stepping foot into their gym. They cater to a crowd that's likely to work out inconsistently. When members are only paying $10 a month, they hardly realize the fees coming out of their bank account and sometimes forget they even have a gym membership. Planet Fitness is able to maintain their base rate of $10 because of this concept.

My gym membership is around $40 a month. For someone paying back their student loans, $40 is an amount of money I notice leave my bank account. Generally speaking, the more individuals pay for their gym memberships the more likely they are to go to the gym. In the world of gym memberships, you get what you pay for so my gym is better than most. I've gone during crunch time on a Monday and have gotten my chest workout in because of the amount of facilities my gym has. My old Planet Fitness had one set of cables...

I picked a gym that I pass on my way home from work:

On my way home from work, I would pass my house before my old gym. I often found myself stopping home with the intent to throw shorts on, grab my gym bag, and make a bee line for the front door. However, I’d smell my mom’s meatloaf or my step dad’s vodka sauce and that bee line quickly took a permanent detour. Now I pack my gym bag before I go to sleep every night and throw it in my trunk. On my way home from work I directly pass my new gym. Despite how tired I may be or how delicious dinner is, I haven't once kept driving past my gym.

I invest:

Instead of spending money on henleys from Macy's, I started buying myself more exercise related goods. I've bought anything from pre-workout supplements to new insoles for my basketball sneakers. Even something as simple as a new water bottle has elevated my enthusiasm to go to the gym. Spending money on workout gear is my way of reiterating my commitment to myself.

I "Terry Collins’" my cardio:

Like your traditional gym rat, I love lifting weights and hate cardio (No, I don’t skip leg day). So I knew coming to the gym this time around I would have to consistently switch up my cardio to trick myself into enjoying it. For the most part, I plan my cardio the night before. Instead of just hoping on a treadmill and being a hamster on a wheel, I box, swim, and play basketball. Now I'm not staring at a clock waiting for my half an hour in cardio purgatory to be up so I can go grunt like Rambo in the free weight section.

I try to go with a buddy:

One of my buddies had already been going to my new gym before I signed up and having him go to the same gym has really helped. We hardly ever complete a full workout together. We'll usually play basketball once or twice a week and maybe do a few lifts together. The gym we go to is a little further from our neighborhood than most others and there's barely anyone else we know who goes to our gym. This forces me to check in with him every day. We try to time our workouts at the same time but if we don't, I'll end up catching him on his way out or vice versa. This buddy check system has really kept me in line. He's in better shape than I am so when I see him lifting, I push myself to compete with the amount of weight he's throwing around. Having a friend spot you instead of relying on that jacked old guy in short shorts who grunts like Serena Williams is always nice too.