The ladies’ section of the gym features three walls of floor to ceiling mirrors. From the elliptical machine I was on, I could see various unobstructed perspectives of myself. This delights me because I am a vain pot. It also makes it ultra convenient for people watching.

But it really ticked me off when it became quite clear that the mirror next to me, the one that featured my profile at that point in time, is a slimming mirror. I was checking myself out and thinking that I should have better self esteem considering how petite my behind is and how slim my legs look. I was also chiding my brain about how it has this messed up opinion that I have thunder thighs and a heavy backside.

Then, I looked at the reflection of the elliptical machine, compared it to the size of what my eyes see of the actual machine and… WHAT IN THE WORLD! The distance between the mirror and the machine could never account for the apparent size difference!

Is it suppose to make me feel better about myself? That I would go easy on the cardio machines? Unethical.

If I were diligent at working out and noticed this trick, what happens is that I would pump the machines harder and be harder on myself because I will never be convinced that I am actually that slim. Even as I stand before a normal mirror, I would be convinced that the reflection takes off about an inch all round. This means that in reality, I am not quite as slim and do not look at good as the mirror would have me believe.

Good thing for me, I am no diligent gym goer. Eli had to drag me to the gym tonight and even then I kept asking him how long he was working out because “I didn’t feel like it”, after three weeks of inactivity. Blame it on my sore eye! In fact, I think the workout today actually made it worse! It was on the road to recovery but got redder post-workout.