Back in Skinny Jeans has a link to an amazing Oprah quiz that indicates almost 75% of the people taking it are not happy with themselves, with one of the questions being ‘When you look in the mirror everyday, how do you feel?’

One of the reasons I linked to the top 10 reasons you should lift article yesterday is their #2 reason:

2. You feel strong and fit: It’s a great feeling when you look in the mirror during your workouts and see your back muscles, biceps, shoulders, and legs flexing. If you’re unsure about proper lifting technique, hire a personal trainer for a few sessions. The money you invest is well worth it, as is the time and energy you put towards an effective program. And weightlifting can definitely increases your confidence. It’s a wonderful feeling to feel strong, especially after a workout. You look forward to looking in the mirror, and actually like what you see.

The self confidence and feeling of empowerment that comes with increasing your muscular strength is not to be underestimated.

When you meet people who’ve lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscle, it’s like meeting an evangelist sometimes. They can be annoying, but they just went through a life-altering experience. They’re confident, energetic, they hold themselves differently, they feel more in control, they feel fit.

One way to increase positivity during that ‘mirror moment’ is to lift weights and see improvement.