Last year Sarah Hyland revealed that she was thinner than she wanted to be due to a medical condition. She had a kidney transplant in 2012 to treat a condition she was born with called kidney dysplasia, where the kidneys don’t form properly in utero. She’s had to take time off working out and has been on doctor-ordered bed rest periodically. Sarah recently posted a video enthusing about working out naked, saying that it motivates her or something. She was in the hospital in June and hasn’t been able to work out for a little while and I guess this is her idea of making up for lost time.
“So I have a break from filming right now before some other things, and does anybody else like working out naked in front of mirrors so you hate yourself and work harder?” Hyland asked her Instagram followers.
Shortly after that first post, she popped back into her Instagram story, out of breath, to explain why it works for her.
“Seriously. I suggest you all do it,” she said. “Because you’re in front of the mirror and you’re like, ‘Must have Dua Lipa abs!’ ”
Hyland’s desire for abs is just one of her motivations for hitting the gym. The actress has kidney dysplasia, and was in and out of the hospital earlier this year for a health scare. After a mid-June hospital stay, Hyland was excited to get back in the gym later that month.
“Finally have clearance to work out,” she posted in her Instagram story. “Abs here I come. It’s been a while. Strong > skinny.”
Hyland is frequently criticized by her followers for looking too thin. Their skinny-shaming is a constant source of frustration for the actress, and she said in May that she wants to build muscle.
“I haven’t had the greatest year. Maybe one day I’ll talk about it but for now, I’d like my privacy. I will say that this year has brought a lot of changes and with that, physical changes,” Hyland tweeted. “I have been told that I can’t work out. Which, for me, is very upsetting. I love to be STRONG … Strength is everything. Being strong has gotten me where I am. Both mentally and physically. I am not a fan of ‘being skinny.’ ”
“It’s never fun to look in the mirror and see your hard work at the gym fade away or have your legs be the size of one’s arms,” she continued. “But I know that when I get clearance I will be able to get back to the STRONG, lean, and fabulous self I know I can be.”
I don’t like working out in front of the mirror during a gym class. I feel like I’m blocking the people behind me and I don’t always like looking at myself. I’m not like Jamie Lee Curtis who claims not to use a mirror, I do my hair and makeup and check out my outfit. Working out without any clothes on is bizarre and seems unhygienic. Does she wear underwear and a sports bra? To each their own, but it does bring up the issue of disordered body image. I’m not going to get into that except to say that I don’t hate myself when I see myself naked and hating myself is not a good motivator for me to do anything. It wouldn’t occur to me watch myself exercise without clothes for many reasons.
photos credit: WENN
I’m very sorry she has the kidney disease.
But “hate yourself”?? No thank you chica.
How sad. To be so young and talented and yet so paranoid and unhappy.
That’s an awful thing to say. Way to promote body positivity Sarah.
I always have to be in front of the mirror at my gym because I have to be able to check my form and if I’m in the back of the class then the mirror is usually blocked. I have a tendency to get a bit messy if I’m not hyper-aware of form.
I really like Sarah a lot–she strikes me as a genuinely good person–but I think it’s never a great message to say that you hate yourself. I could see a young women who isn’t as thin as Sarah reading that and thinking “if she hates herself and she’s that thin, then how am I supposed to feel about MYSELF?” I think she was just being a bit hyperbolic but unfortunately, as a young actress that many young women look up to, she has to be really cognizant about how she talks about these issues.
I think she looks so cute with glasses–they really suit her.
I like her as well, she seems sweet and well-spoken. I used to follow her on Instagram and think she was being hyperbolic as you said. Obviously, I didn’t see her say it myself but can imagine it was said in a joking way. She’s funny & talented, can’t wait to see what she does after Modern Family.
I do this occasionally in my own home.
I always felt loathing towards my body (to the point anorexia almost killed me) but it’s not healthy doing exercise only to hate yourself. It seems bizarre to me.
No thanks, I prefer to be dressed to the hilt
SilverUnicorn: I am so sorry you had to experience that illness. I have never experienced it to that level, but I spent a good amount of time obsessed with the scale and calorie counting so I know how it can feel to tie body image with happiness. I’m currently working with a new trainer who NEVER encourages self hatred as Sarah is suggesting. If she truly feels that way, I feel for her. I think all women have been there at some point. Even if her goal is to be strong, hating yourself if not the best way to get there!
Don’t get me wrong, it’s completely awful to think about oneself in those terms, but it’s also refreshingly honest. I feel like this is an entirely accurate glimpse of the toxic mentality that so many Hollywood women internalize and carry around with them. It just makes me sad for her.
Agree! I’m late 50s and don’t really remember ever not hating myself …
Also, can we ever just tweet/post something without having to shoulder the weight of the world with every word? Sometimes, you just want to post something silly like what she said without it becoming body shaming, feminist shaming, disordered eating shaming etc.
Nope. Life is too short and precious to be spent in front of a mirror hating yourself. I work out regularly for health reasons, but I have learned to love my less-than-perfect body. Too many women are prisoners of their own body shame, rather than spending their energy on something that really matters.
Great message, there, Hyland. I’m sure the pro-ana community will love it.
I’ve worked out in front of mirrors at the gym before, but not because I hate myself. I’m not as thin as her, either. I do it because I enjoy watching myself getting sweaty and red and breathing hard and kicking ass on that elliptical at the highest level. Miss me with this normalization of female self-hatred. I got too much shit to accomplish to worry about that.
No – work out in front of a mirror to see your body doing amazing things and be proud that you’re working out – and thankful that you can. Don’t hate yourself.
Wow, I feel sorry for her.
I don’t hog the mirror at the gym but there are certain exercises I do close up because I like to check my posture. I never stare at myself, I just look at the line of my hips or my back, or just my legs.
Umm, I don’t know. I think it might be a bit healthier to approach working out from a place of love – as in “I’m doing this cardio cuz it’s what my mind and body needs,” but do whatever motivates you, I guess…
Checking your form is one thing but this just screams “Help” to me. It’s awful she has such poor health but I am also side-eyeing her health problems as 100% of the reason she is so thin after these comments.
You’d probably need a home gym to work out naked.
Lol, with my boobs it would be impossible..and Sarah, you need help. sometimes I dont like my body and I still workout to get to the body I want but it never crossed my mind to say that I hate myself…
Nooo, I’m too critical of myself to do that. Besides, boobs would flop around. I accept my body, but i don’t want to stare at it while working out. She’s so pretty, great smile
Yea…I would never use the words “hate” and “self “in the same sentence…or thought….
I’m the only me I got…
I agree with one thing she said, “strong>skinny”! I wish more people with a platform vocalized this. I don’t care what size I am if everything is tight(ish) and I feel strong. My mom is old school, in her 60’s, who has always been skinny due to just hardly eating. For the record, I have always thought she had some sort of eating disorder. 🙁 She isn’t toned but she’s on the small side. I notice a lot of women her age(that I know personally) don’t think about working out or being strong, just being skinny.
Let me jump on my soapbox really quick, please! Women should not be scared of bulking up lifting weights!!! Do you have any idea how deciplined people have to be to build big muscles!? Lol Cardio only is not the way to go. Grab some 5-10 pound dumbbells/kettle bells and watch your body transform quicker than cardio only! You can sculpt your muscles while burning tons of calories(way more than cardio only) and that is what will give you max results. It’s very, very difficult to build large muscles. Also, If you want super muscles, go for it!! Train hard, eat tons of calories, and get a schedule going to achieve that. There are tons of blogs to follow if getting super strong is your goal. Just please, please don’t be afraid of weights.
HeyThere!, since you mentioned it I have a question. I use weights but small weights for floor work. I was told (by a running coach) that if I used larger weights it would make my breast area more “deformed”. I should also note that over the last three years I have lost 75 lbs and went from a 38D to a 34 A/B. My breasts are pretty much gone. I was told more weights would make the muscle underneath grow but leave my breasts as saggy. Does increasing weights cause that? After that initial talk with the running coach I am afraid to ask anyone about weights. Thanks.
Hi KelseyM, I’m not a fitness expert or doctor, but to my knowledge building muscle doesn’t give me saggy breasts. What did give me saggy breasts, after years of working out on the regular, was being pregnant and having two kids! This is all I know and I wish I could be more helpful. Based on my own years of fitness, no, lifting weights and building my arms, shoulders, back and chest muscles did not give me deformed or saggy breasts. Now, another common myth of working out is you can only drop weight from a designated area. The weight will come from fat all over the body, so it’s bound to go from our breasts if you have a lot to lose from there. Maybe creating a saggy look? Deformed is a harsh word to me. I know that’s what the running coach told you but I don’t think that’s a healthy term. Also, seek many opinions! 🙂 Please don’t be scared to ask others about weight training. Congratulations on a healthier you. I’m a work in progress with my two babies but everyday I can do things to make tomorrow healthier than today(mentally and physically).
There’s so much wrong here I don’t even know where to begin. I’ll leave it at that, though, because she has enough issues to deal with. I hope she stays off the internet for the next few days.
What a sad and unhealthy attitude. I thank her for her honesty but this should be a wake up call to realize she needs to change the way she thinks about her body.
For someone who has put so much time into denying a distorted body image on social media, despite a LOT of evidence to the contrary, this really doesn’t do her claims any favors.
Honestly it is scary to me anyone can think self hate /body hate is ever normal. Even as a joke. It is not. You are worthy, you are loved, if you have these thoughts get help – Google a certified eating disorder specialist (CEDS) doctor, nurse, dietitian, therapist. It isn’t your fault you have these thoughts. It is a brain malfunction, genetics, and social influence.
CEDS professionals don’t just treat weight anorexia, they treat anyone with these thoughts that tell you that you or your body are not enough. If you have a friend that talks this, even jokes like this, check on them. It is NOT normal.
Yesterday was national suicide prevention day and people with eating disorders (not just anorexia, but any size) die from suicide at a much higher rate. Mental health matters.
Yeah, this is a pretty unhealthy mindset she’s displaying. I’m sure it’s common in Hollywood, but it’s dangerous and sad nonetheless.
I mean, kudos to her for being honest, but girlfriend needs to see a therapist. You only get one body and you should always love it, no matter your weight or appearance.
My workouts are mostly on a spin bike. Clothing is not optional.
My workout attire mainly consists of leggings with a tank top or a cropped sports bra (Outdoor Voices makes some great ones). That’s about as “naked” as I’ll ever get when working out.
I am sorry to hear that Sarah Hyland had kidney issues. But she had to learn to love herself, and no be so obsessed with being skinny. She has a nice, loving boyfriend, whom I think doesn’t judge her. I hope she is healthy enough to deliver a child one day–but yikes, motherhood sure changes your body. I don’t think she could handle that.
HATE her serial killer glasses.
i’m hoping she used the word ‘hate’ as an exaggeration in an attempt to be funny because I agree-hating yourself hardly ever results in positive behavior. she’s funny on modern family and very, very skinny but so is Julie bowen-pressure for women in that industry must be ridicules
She has an eating disorder. I would put money on it not from her body, but the language she uses. I’ve heard and said all the same things.
Doesn’t negate she has other health issues – the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
+100000000 agree. Her words are straight outta the pro Anna book, and she’s so obviously using the strong emphasis as a defensive leave me alone type statement. I bet she’s already hearing concern from people, and this statement was for them.. while reaching out to the Anna army as a new pop culture Anna idol.
That may sound incredibly judgemental, but if you’re familiar with the pro Anna’s it’s like a copy & paste verbiage on “getting privacy 101”