Do you watch yourself in the mirror when you lift?

So, I recently joined a new gym in my area. My old gym had the free weights section directly in front of the mirror, so I didn't think twice about lifting while watching myself.

My new gym, however, has the weight section I usually use (20-40lbs) facing opposite a mirror, and has all of the impossibly large weights (like 125lb dumbbells. yikes) in front of the mirror. I feel like a doofus carrying my 20s over for one set and then bringing them back, but I also feel like a doofus looking out the window while lifting.

I don't know. I know it's recommended to watch yourself for form, but I've been lifting for a while, and I think I could do it without watching myself.

Thoughts?

I work out at home in my living room and I don't have any mirrors in there.  When I was first starting I had my husband watch my form and tell me if it looked like I was doing anything really wrong, but now I can feel if it's not right.

Yep. I always do my workouts in front of a mirror... I bet since you're used to doing the exercises you would be able to feel if your form is off, so you probably don't HAVE to do it in front of a mirror. Just do whatever you feel like :]

I flex in the mirror between sets.  But I don't look at it during the exercise.

With a lot of exercises you won't be able to tell if your form is good by looking in a mirror (i.e. if there is a mirror in front of you while you do squats you can't really tell if your back rounds).

If you look like a doofus carrying free weights to a mirror to lift, then I must really look like one carrying them to another room so I can alternate them with floor exercises!

Do what works for you - don't worry about other people (yeah, like you needed me to tell you that!)

Original Post by floggingsully:

I flex in the mirror between sets. 

 Oh I hope you are kidding...

Yes, getting back into squats finally after some knee problems, the physical therapist has me paying attention that my knee isn't dropping inward.

I really only look when a) i'm worried about my form on something, like squats listed above...I have a tendency to let my knees come out too far. Or db shoulder presses, to make sure I don't push out my stomach, stuff like that.

or b) cuz there is no where else to look. I don't want to be staring at the guy grunting on the other side; cuz even though it's mindless staring while im concentrating, I don't want him to think I'm hitting on him. At my gyms (I workout at a few diff ones cuz o location) it's either face the mirror, or face other people. I HATE when ppl watch me workout, so I try not to watch them!

But what I really wanted to say, was who cares? If you feel more comfortable in front o the mirror, grab your weights and stand w the big boys! haah I'll move wherever I have to in the gym to be comfortable working out. I think most people just need a focal point, mainly, and it's easier to watch ourselves than anything else!

 

I watch myself in the mirror during my entire workout.

We have a big mirror in front of the weights, and the treadmill. I tend to watch TV when I lift, but when I run I have to watch myself just to push myself more.

 

Because let's face it, when you watch someone overweight run you get some sick motivation to run faster. I know I do. So it helps just watching my stomach wiggle a little bit... I get motivation back. It works.

Mirrors can actually be a distraction during some lifts, for example when some people deadlift they're too busy staring at the mirror insteadof keeping their head in a neutral position throughout the movement.

Original Post by littlesimongeorge:

Mirrors can actually be a distraction during some lifts, for example when some people deadlift they're too busy staring at the mirror insteadof keeping their head in a neutral position throughout the movement.

And if you are balancing one one leg - one-legged romanian deadlifts are harder if you are looking at a mirror.