Ed Sheeran’s appearance on the cover of Men’s Health UK has turned the spotlight on a personal shift driven by fatherhood and a more disciplined routine.
The 34-year-old singer told the publication that
a shift in his lifestyle began shortly after the birth of his first daughter, Lyra. A moment from those early days proved decisive. “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, ‘I probably shouldn’t drink if I’m going to feel this dreadful,’” he said.
Sheeran, who shares daughters Lyra, now five, and Jupiter, three, with wife Cherry Seaborn, said that parenthood brought multiple priorities into focus at once. “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 told Men’s Health UK.
Over the past five years, those choices have added up to a 30-pound (around 13.60 kg) weight loss. His routine now includes Pilates, weight training, running and a different approach to touring life, one that avoids post-show pub sessions in favour of returning straight to his hotel.
“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 said. “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.”
His fitness journey began during the COVID pandemic, initially involving walking on a treadmill while answering emails. He later began training more seriously alongside his wife.
Reflecting on how far he has come, Sheeran said rewatching footage from Jumpers for Goalposts: Live at Wembley Stadium, which chronicled his 2015 run of shows at the London venue, was eye-opening. “Each morning I’m getting interviewed and they’re like, ‘How was last night?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I was out until 6 a.m. doing tequila shots and smoking cigarettes with this person and doing this and that.’ Then I’d play a show and it was that seven days a week. But when you watch it and you look at me now, I look 40 in that and I look 24 now.”
Sheeran also reflected on the change in an Instagram post shared alongside the magazine cover. Describing the feature as something unexpected, he wrote that it was “Something I never thought I’d do, but here we are.” Looking back a decade, he added, “10 years ago I was a beer guzzling, kebab munching smoker. Having kids really made me knock all those bad habits on the head (excuse the pun), and I got heavily into exercise and moderation.”
Despite the transformation, Sheeran was clear that his approach is not about extremes. He said, “I do think it’s relatable for parents to suddenly want to be a bit more healthy and follow a bit more of a routine. I’m not saying we all need to run marathons. I’m also not selling super-healthy eating or this or that. I still enjoy myself and I don’t roll around with a little tub of grilled turkey. It’s all about moderation.”
