Workout Motivation

So I've been asked a few times how I find the motivation to work out.  Today at work, I was discussing this very subject with a friend.  I go to spin class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 a.m. and then do a cardio/weight training workout two days a week at 5:00 a.m.  I'm not going to lie, some mornings, the last thing I want to do is go to the gym.  But waiting to go after work is not an option for me.  What motivates me to get up at the ass crack of dawn to hit the gym?  It used to be my weight.  I lost 65 pounds a few years ago through working out and watching calories.  Nothing special, that really is the secret.  Now, my focus is something different.  Something a bit more important in the grand scheme of things.  First and foremost, I am working out for my health.
A couple months ago, I underwent a fairly major surgery.  While there are many great side effects from the surgery, there are negatives as well.  Big negatives.  I am now at a much higher risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, and breast cancer earlier in life.  Scary stuff!!  What's the one thing that can help prevent all those awful things?  Regular cardiovascular exercise and strength training!  I know it won't guarantee that I won't get any of those diseases, but it can help prevent them.  Not only that, it's good for so many other things in life.  Exercise is a stress reliever, an energizer, a self-esteem booster, a mood booster, an aphrodesiac (yeah, I am going there!), an immune system booster, a way to control weight gain, and so much more! 

I especially take the heart disease risk seriously because my dad died much too early from heart disease.  After he died, I really started focusing more on cardio, much as I hate it.  And believe me, I HATE cardio!  There is so much focus on breast cancer these days, but heart disease actually kills more women per year than breast cancer! 

So what's my motivation?  Every bead of sweat says a very loud "NO!" to breast cancer.  Every rep screams "Screw You" to osteoporosis.  Every mile echos "Go fuck yourself!" to heart disease.  Every increased heart beat says "I will not be a statistic!" 

Now, I would be lying if I said my weight didn't come to mind at all while I am working out.  As I said in my first post, I love to eat.  Seriously, I really love to eat.  I can eat any man under the table.  I'm not one of those chicks that eats like a bird.  I finish the Lover's leftovers.  Seriously.  But I've been able to maintain my weight while eating incredible food because I work out so strenuously.  I would rather be able to enjoy great food than eat boring foods every day.  I worked my ass off (literally) to lose the weight and I am not going to allow myself to gain it back!!

Along with the whole maintaining my weight thing, I love the increased strength.  I can't begin to put in to words how great it feels to do an exercise and see a man do the exact same exercise, but with much less weight.  I'm totally not a femi-nazi, I swear, but when I work out, I get super "I am woman, hear me roar" when I work out around men.  It pushes me to go further and show up the men-folk.  I don't know why I get that way, but I do.

Finally, when I am really struggling, Lt. Dan comes to my rescue.  Who is Lt. Dan, you ask?  Lt. Dan is my imaginary drill sargeant that yells at me to move my fat ass when I am slowing down.  Sure, I may sound crazy, but Lt. Dan means business and he gets results!  I recommend Lt. Dan to everyone!

So enough about my motivation.  What motivates you to work out?