BROOKLYN, NY—Despite his rigorous commitment to glancing at his reflection every 60 seconds, local gym-goer Travis Morgan, 28, was reportedly devastated to discover that repeatedly checking the gym mirror had not, in fact, made him any more muscular.

Witnesses confirm that over the course of a single 20-minute workout, Morgan glanced at himself no fewer than 20 times, each time hoping to catch a glimpse of his gains materializing in real-time. “I don’t get it,” said Morgan, flexing slightly under the fluorescent lights before looking away and then immediately looking back to check again. “I’m doing everything right.”

According to onlookers, Morgan’s routine consisted primarily of performing a single set, shaking his arms out, and then stepping towards the mirror with an expression of mild concern. “It’s like he’s expecting to evolve into his final form before our eyes,” said fellow gym member Carlos Ramirez, who noted that Morgan had even gone so far as to subtly adjust the lighting on his phone to see if a warmer glow might improve the situation.

Gym staff report that Morgan is part of a growing demographic of fitness enthusiasts who believe in a strict regimen of “progress monitoring” in between every set. “We see this all the time,” said personal trainer Jessica Klein. “Guys come in, do three reps of bicep curls, and then stare at themselves like they just finished the Rocky montage.”

Sources close to Morgan confirm that he has been lifting inconsistently for nearly six months but considers himself “basically a gym guy now.” His pre-workout ritual reportedly includes watching motivational fitness TikToks, adjusting his tank top repeatedly, and ensuring that his phone camera is positioned just right in case his biceps suddenly become Instagram-worthy.

At press time, Morgan was seen performing one final set of lateral raises before approaching the mirror with renewed hope, only to frown in disbelief when his arms looked exactly the same. “Maybe it’s the angle,” he muttered, adjusting his stance and leaning slightly closer. “Or maybe I need a pump cover to do the big reveal at the right moment.”

Despite his disappointment, sources confirmed that Morgan remains dedicated to his fitness journey and will be returning to the gym tomorrow to continue his exhausting routine of checking, flexing, and wondering why he still looks like a guy who eats two Chipotle burritos after leg day.