My husband seems to do better with an audience. We had many discussions about why I don’t care to exercise (I’m at a proper weight, look fine, my strength is sufficient to meet the demands of my life, etc), but in the end, I just go because he doesn’t want to go alone.
I get motivated for a short time after watching Terminator 2, but my life presents so few opportunities to whack deserving people with mop handles. 
I hike every day for at least an hour because if I don’t my dogs will drive me smack out of my mind.
Plus, my knees start to hurt.
I’m a type 2 diabetic. After I was diagnosed, I started an exercise program (mostly walking), which seemed to help somewhat with managing my blood sugar levels. 2 1/2 years ago, I started running, and that had a dramatic impact on my blood sugar. At this point, my endocrinologist is extremely impressed with what I’ve been able to accomplish (he cut my oral med dosage in half, and my numbers are still in the “normal person” range now).
I’ve come to really enjoy running, and participate in races. Plus, I’ve lost 18 pounds since I started running, and people frequently comment on how good I look now (so, yeah, there’s some vanity in there, too).
That would have been my question as well. That’s the item that I checked, although apparently I should have checked “you left out mine” instead.
My ancestors all had their heart attacks early and often, and it’s pretty much my family’s standard cause of death. (Cancer? We don’t live long enough for cancer to be an issue.) I’m 66 and I haven’t had my first heart attack yet, which is a record by far in my family.
I’ve told everyone that I’m going to have my first heart attack in the gym - but at a much more advanced age than I’d have had my first one if I wasn’t going to the gym regularly.
From time to time, temporary insanity sets in and I decide that I’m going to do something idiotic like run a marathon or do a long course triathlon or ride a century something else of a similar nature that will require regular exercise as preparation or a whole lot of pain on the day of the actual event.
That usually gets me exercising regularly for somewhere between 3-12 months, depending on how much prep the event needs.
Between events, the never-ending attempt to reach a desired appearance/weight gets me exercising sporadically.
“Like the way it makes me feel” and “you left out mine.”
To prevent future diseases (not treat current ones). I am not diabetic, hypertensive, and do not have cancer. My cholesterol is easily controlled with a low dose of Lipitor. I want to up my odds of staying that way as long as possible.
To reach my fitness goals. My main fitness goal at my current age (54) is to be able to both dance all night at my now 12 year old daughter’s possible wedding in 20ish (give or take a decade I guess) years and be one of the people trusted to lift up the chair for the traditional carrying people around in the chair dance then, including the possibility of that being a father of the groom who is morbidly obese. (I am assuming that I’ll be able to do those things for her three older brothers if/when they get married.) Being able to do that then requires keeping up with it now!
2a) If I do the first I may be around a while. I will not be a feeble old man. If I am going to live to 100 plus (and I had a great grandfather who was 104) I am going to do it being active the whole time. When I yell get off of my lawn those kids will know I can catch them and swing a mean cane! If I can still do the chair lift at a grandchild’s wedding, bonus.
I put down “I like the way it makes me feel” but it’s not the exercise per se, it’s the specific activity. I cycle because I enjoy cycling, the exercise/fitness aspect is just a positive side affect.
Diabetes, and getting out to exercise is the only thing I do that isn’t work-, computer-game- or shopping-related.
I finally started going to the gym a few months ago after years of on-and-off exercising at home.
For me it’s mostly about appearance.
My wife lusts for Hugh Jackman and wants me to get a Wolverine body.
Cardio exercise, weight training, and a low-carb-high-protein diet seem to be working, slowly.
And damn you with your delicious pumpkin bread recipes!
I’m on a diet.
Do Not Tempt Me!!
(Too late. I already bookmarked the pumpkin coconut bread recipe.)
Walking everyday helps me to think better. My thoughts are crazy-making sometimes, and physical activity helps to reign in some of the chaos.
I also do my best thinking when I walk. My creative impulses and much of my problem-solving happens while I’m in the zone in exercise land.
I feel better when I walk. Devoting 2 hours to it every day keeps me from feeling stressed out. And by intentionally carving out that time, I put trivial matters in their proper place. I could keep a cleaner house if I didn’t exercise so much. But I’d rather be physically and mentally healthy than have an immaculate house and neurotic. And besides. I have loads of time to clean on the weekend. I’ve been keeping my current exercise regime for six years now, and it’s amazing how many more activities I can fit into a 24-hour period. Before, it never seemed like I had enough time. That’s because I was counting “vegging in front of the TV, not doing anything” as an activity. When you’re disciplined about one thing, everything else seems to falls into order.
Finally, I really like being thin. I’ve never been fat but I’ve been noticeably heavier than I am now. I don’t care much for how I looked back then. But I do like how I look now. Yet I also like to occasionally eat donuts and fried foods. Exercise gives me just a little more leeway in my diet to splurge and indulge, while keeping me youthful and light on my feet.
Two main reasons, one subsidiary:
I recall all too vividly my obese father wheezing and coughing his way though his last few years of life (died when he was 73), and am determined not to go through what he went through. I’ve lost 60 pounds and have absolutely no intention of ever seeing them again.
Second (related to the first) is wanting to see my 4 nieces all grown up and doing their thing-maybe with some guidance from me if need be. My dad died when his granddaughter (my oldest niece) was 2, and thus never got to see all 5’ 8" of her (and pure muscle) spike a volleyball down an opponent’s throat. I often will look a pic of them before beginning any prolonged workout session as motivation.
And third, I do have to admit that I do feel more…vital afterwards. It also helps me sleep at night if I do it in the evening.
Many smaller reasons, most listed above. But overall - because it’s the smart thing to do.
I considered this the “other option” he forgot to list.
Another reason not listed: I go for walkies on the trails because it’s pretty out there! Oak canyons and broad grasslands and high hills with spacious views.
One of the other old farts I walk with at the gym every day says he walks so he can keep eating chocolate. That’ll do for me as well.
That, and I enjoy the conversations of the other old farts.
If I don’t walk, I don’t get to work.
So, in other words – food is one of your motivations! 
I try to exercise regularly but fail at maintaining a pattern.
The reason for the exercise is to control high blood pressure and to stop the gut getting any bigger (a reduction wouldn’t be sneezed at, but bugger the work in getting abs)
Unfortunately, I tend to yo yo with exercise. Get in a rythym, doing it regularly, then over do it and hurt something, don’t do it for a while, get out of routine, then repeat cycle.
The warmer weather and having time away from work will help.
You left out my reason. I’m active because I both know it’s good for me, and I feel my best when I am. Rather than so much ‘exercising’ (though I do do that, too, off and on) I just incorporate more moving into my daily life - working on my feet, walking and biking for transportation, taking a difficult hike when I can, etc.
My body has looked about the same since I was 15 through a huge variety of lifestyles. It’ll be interesting when that starts to change.
Here’s a video I took of the park I walked through today. That roaring sound was the wind. There’s not much weather that I won’t walk in.
People say I’m crazy when I walk (slowly!) in hundred degree (F) heat. But a blizzard? Holy moly! A blizzard! You’ve got the courage of your exercise! You’re either very determined…or crazy!
Very pretty, but, to be honest, seeing a video is as close to a blizzard as I ever want to get!