Ed Sheeran is showing off his ripped abs after losing 30 pounds in a shocking weight loss transformation.
A shirtless Sheeran posed for Thursday’s cover issue of Men’s Health UK. In an interview with the outlet, he revealed the drastic lifestyle changes he made in order “to be a responsible dad” and to “feel and look good.”
Part of that major shift was cutting back on alcohol, not only for the health benefits, but because it was getting in the way of his daddy duties for his two daughters, Lyra, 5, and Jupiter, 3, whom he shares with wife Cherry Seaborn.
“I remember Lyra was two weeks old and I had my best mate round and we had a bottle of wine. I went to bed, then Lyra woke up 20 minutes after I’d fallen asleep. I woke up and I was like, ‘F—k, I probably shouldn’t drink if I’m going to feel this dreadful,’” the musician recalled.
“I want to be able to do the night stuff. It all came in at the same time of wanting to be a responsible dad, wanting to feel and look good,” he explained. “I didn’t want to pick my kid up and have my back f—ked and stuff like that.”
The Grammy winner also noted how heavy drinking “feeds into professional life.”
“You’re less resilient in your thirties. I was losing my voice more. I would pull muscles in my leg, I pulled a muscle in my back when I was playing live… I wanted to feel superhuman on stage.”
The songwriter candidly revealed he was “worried” about being on the cover of Men’s Health since he’s “the guy people relate to” and thought his fans would think it was “weird” that he is now “super in shape.”
He ultimately got over the fear when he realized it could inspire his fans to enter new and healthier phases of their own lives.
Sheeran achieved his 30-pound weight loss within the past five years. He credits his “consistent” fitness routine of weights, reformer Pilates and running in helping him do so.
Although tempting, he also makes sure to avoid hitting the pub with pals after his concerts and opts for dinner and a massage in his hotel room.
“I can be a guy who can be led quite easily and if I finish a gig and my mates are there, I could go out,” Sheeran admitted. “So actually having to be in my hotel room… I get the massage and, as soon as the massage is done, I need to go to bed. So it’s great for maintaining my voice, maintaining energy and keeping healthy.”
Sheeran went through another weight-loss transformation back in 2019 when he revealed he lost 50 pounds after quitting smoking.
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The “Shape of You” hitmaker confessed in his interview with Men’s Health UK that he “lived a pretty unhealthy life from 20 to 30” and although it was manageable, he “wouldn’t say that reflected well into [his] personal life.”
“And I do think that wellness is a direct mirror to mental health and the way you feel,” he added. “I always felt like shit within myself; I’d wake up and look in the mirror and just feel gross.”
Now with this lifestyle change and weight loss, Sheeran is able to be the performer and father he’s always wanted to be.
