THERESA: When researchers at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, had women exercisers work out in front of a mirror, they found that women who exercised in front of the mirror were in a worse mood after their workout than women who exercised without the mirror. And the negative feelings held true even for those women who had a positive body image. Half of the women exercised on a stationary bike in front of a bank of mirrors; the others did so in front of floor-length curtains. Lead researcher Kathleen Martin Ginis noted that "It doesn't seem to matter what you look like objectively or what you think you look like. Exercising in front of a mirror can drag you down." Girlfriends, do you find this to be true?

LAURIE: I find when I'm dancing salsa, it helps to have a mirror to sharpen your movements. I wouldn't want to watch myself get progressively more red-faced and sweaty while I was using a bike or other macine. But when working out with free weights, again, I like a mirror so I can correct movements.

WENDY: One thing to be said for mirrors -- its cool to watch yourself do something well, particularly if you are seeing results. Maybe the real problem is the way women are acculturated to feel about themselves, rather than a problem with mirrors? Wonder what would happen if they did the experiment with men?

JULIE: I wouldn't want to run or bike in front of a mirror, it would definitely break my concentration. But I do use a mirror when I do free weights. Like Laurie, it helps me to make sure I'm doing the moves correctly...also it makes me work a little harder when I see my flabby arms and stomach!

JENICE: I do a much better job getting into and sticking to an exercise regime when it's not solely about the looks thing. I lose myself in what I'm doing and it becomes more about the sport and less about what I look like. Is it that way for everyone else?

YVETTE: In all honesty, the only gym I've ever used is the company's. But I've always liked the mirrors because they serve as reminders of how much progress I'm actually making. I guess it's a personal thing. But the mirrors always gave me greater incentive to keep at my workout - especially during times when I didn't feel I had it in me finish.

ELLEN: I hate mirrors but then you guys all look better than I do.

JENICE:That's not true, Ellen. You're really looking great.

THERESA: Depends what I happen to be wearing. In some exercisewear, hey, I have no problem with the mirrors. In some of my outfits, yikes, forget it. But mostly, I find the mirrors really helpful when I'm doing freeweights, and I usually don't even mind 'em when I'm on the treadmill. The treadmill can get pretty boring and a mirror provides at least some distraction to keep my mind occupied. I gotta say, I can't imagine feeling depressed after working out (maybe during sometimes, but not after) mirrors or not.