Since I recovered from my recent weight loss surgery, I’ve had to step up my fitness game, particularly when it comes to muscle tone and strength.

I’ve never been a fitness sort of person. To start with, I’ve had asthma my whole life, and as a kid my constant wheezing made it tough to keep up with the other kids. Luckily, as I’ve grown older, more advanced medications have come along that keep the wheezing at bay. But part of me will always be the kid asking to go to the nurse during gym class.

My gym-phobic past combined with the old beast of seasonal depression makes it harder and harder to leave my cozy home nest of blankets and Netflix marathons, all for the privilege of staring blankly at an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun while I shuffle along on an elliptical.

I’ve found a few tricks to help get me out the door, into the sweatpants and back onto the horse (the metaphorical horse – I’m allergic to the real kind).

Upgrades Are Your Friend

While we’ve all had the nightmare of trying to cancel a gym membership you’re not using, spending a bit more can sometimes make it easier to use. For example, for a bit more, you can usually upgrade to things like having a permanent locker, towel service and access to spa-like features such as whirlpool, steam room or massage chairs. These little perks can make the difference between your gym being a slog of lugging a damp towel home every day and being a total breeze.

If You’re Broke, There’s Hope

While upgrades are nice, I know realistically they are not in everyone’s budget. If you don’t make a ton of money, inquire about low-cost memberships. Some gyms will allow members to downgrade to an off-peak plan (you can only use the gym on the least-attended days and times) or even membership assistance if you bring in your tax returns. There are also tons of community gyms with low fees to start with (a hundred dollars a year, anyone?), which they will also waive for low-income residents.

Establish Routine

If you are a morning person, get to the gym early and give yourself plenty of time to shower and get ready for work at a leisurely pace. Then once your workday is done, you can go home and chill out. If you are more of a night owl, look for evening classes where you can go after work. Some people even find they can squeeze in a 30-minute class during their lunch hour. Whatever works with your schedule is going to be more sustainable in the long run, and less likely to get discarded the second things get busy.

Have Fun

Obviously plodding along at a slow speed on a whining treadmill is not anyone’s idea of fun. Mix it up: take a dance class; try a weight lifting group training session; join a sports league. Some rowing machines even have a “games” settings to motivate you to stay on longer. If you’re a social butterfly, get friends in on it and take a class together. If you’re more into solo-workouts, make yourself a banging Spotify playlist that keeps your heart rate up. Whatever gets your blood pumping and has you looking forward to your workout is the best option.

Look Cute

If you’re going to sweat, you might as well look cute doing it. I like to scour clearance racks, discount stores and even Value Village for fun workout gear: leggings with leg warmers, neon everything, silver spandex and matching wrist and head sweatbands. Your taste might be a bit more refined than mine, but I hear there are good workout wear options out there in places as far flung as Reitmans, Addition Elle and The Bay. Find an outfit that not only looks great but feels good – it will be that much easier to get into the habit.

Have a Snack

Pack a nice post-workout snack. A favourite of mine is a tiny wedge of a cheese (you can get nice ones from Whole Foods for as little as a dollar!), a clementine and a couple nice olives or pickles. Other snacks I like are fruit with Greek yogurt dip, nuts with a couple of pieces of beef jerky, or even just a baggie of frozen grapes. Taking ten minutes in the morning or before bed to put together a little bite will keep your post-workout hunger from turning into hanger.

Treat Yourself

Again, this doesn’t have to equate spending tons of money. Little luxuries go a long way if you make the gym visit feel like a special treat. Go to Marshalls or Winners and find yourself one of those “cooling workout towels” to drape around your neck (I’ve seen them as cheap as $5). Buy sample sizes of some fancy shampoo, conditioner and lotions. Buy a “wash” or “lotion” for every damn part of your body – I’m talking face wash, foot lotion, boob wash, elbow cream. Bring some diluted essential oils to massage into your scalp as you sit in the steam room. Even something as simple as sweat-wicking socks, a nice water bottle or a comfortable-to-carry gym bag can help up your motivation when you’re tempted to snooze in that extra hour.

And for the love of all things good and great – NEVER forget your shower flip flops. Nothing will send you home faster than that.