My reasons for staying fit
Staying slim and fit has always been a goal that has guided me throughout my life. I have been exercising with varying intensity and frequency since I was a teenager. Of course, there were the usual benefits of working out: Staying healthy, looking good, having fun. But when I hit a slump, certain reasons kept me going.
One impetus for me to work out is to avoid future regret. In case I fall ill, I don't want to feel like I could have done something, but didn't out of laziness. I imagine myself as an elderly person with daily pain in my body, cursing my younger self for not taking care of his health. When something bad happens, I want to be sure that it is because of bad luck and not because of self-inflicted reasons. Because then I can deal with it better mentally.
I also want to pursue my hobbies even when I am old. That is another motivation to stay fit. Many of my hobbies require my body not to hurt and to function properly to fully enjoy them. If I can no longer guarantee that, I have a problem, because I will have a lot of time after retirement that needs to be filled with something other than silence and boredom to not turn bitter. While it is good to be free of pain while doing nothing, it is also important to not feel pain when doing the things you love (and to be capable of doing them with your aging body).
The last reason for me to exercise is rather silly, but it sort of works. I have this phrase in my head: "You are either ugly or out of shape, but you can't be both". This motivation is directed toward my future partner, who should have something to enjoy visually when living with me and having to look at me for the rest of my life.