The physical evolution of Ed Sheeran has been remarkably visible over the last few years. The British hitmaker has successfully shed 30 pounds and refined his physique, a transformation he attributes largely to the lifestyle shifts that followed the birth of his children with wife Cherry Seaborn.
Gracing the latest cover of Men’s Health, Sheeran delved into the catalysts behind his newfound dedication to fitness. The primary motivation, he revealed, was the transition into fatherhood. He recounted a specific epiphany that occurred when his eldest daughter, Lyra, was only two weeks old.
“I had a close friend over and we finished a bottle of wine,” Sheeran explained. After finally getting to sleep, he was awoken just 20 minutes later by his newborn. “I woke up and realized I shouldn’t be drinking if I wanted to handle the nighttime responsibilities. It was a perfect storm of wanting to be an attentive father while also desiring to look and feel my best.”
To achieve his current level of fitness, the singer—who is now a father to daughters Lyra and Jupiter—integrated a disciplined exercise regimen into his daily life, even while navigating the demands of global touring. His routine is a multifaceted blend of weightlifting, reformer Pilates, and steady-state running, paired with a significant reduction in alcohol consumption.
This disciplined lifestyle is a departure from the “everyman” image the Grammy winner previously projected. Sheeran admitted to having some reservations about whether his fans would still find him approachable now that he’s appearing on fitness magazine covers. “I’ve definitely worried about it,” he confessed. “I’ve always been the guy people find relatable, and I wondered if being in peak shape would feel out of character.”
Ultimately, Sheeran believes the shift is something many parents can understand. “It’s natural for parents to crave a healthier routine,” he noted. “Deep down, I still feel like the guy who loves pizza, beer, and smoking, but that lifestyle doesn’t align with being a parent in my 30s. It’s about making mature choices.”
Check out Sheeran’s Men’s Health feature below:
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