Singing sensation Ed Sheeran has admitted to the major life changes he decided to make after a moment of clarity after becoming a father
23:59, 18 Dec 2025
Ed wanted to feel ‘superhuman’ on stage and as a dad(Image: Patrik Giardino / Men’s Health)
Ed Sheeran has spoken about his journey into getting fit after becoming a father – admitting he is a “pizza-eating, beer-guzzling smoker” at heart. Singer and songwriter Ed said he lived a pretty unhealthy life from 20 to 30 but had a moment of clarity when his eldest daughter woke him from an alcohol-induced slumber.
He explained: “I became a dad. I remember Lyra [oldest daughter] 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*ck, I probably shouldn’t drink if I’m going to feel this dreadful,’ 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. I didn’t want to pick my kid up and have my back f****d and stuff like that. And then also that feeds into professional life…I wanted to feel superhuman on stage.”
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The 34-year-old added in his chat with Men’s Health UK: “I think, underneath it all, I am a pizza-eating, beer-guzzling smoker, but that’s just not my reality as a parent in my thirties. I think that you have to make good decisions.
“I’d never run more than a kilometre and did my first 10K during Covid – stuff like that, building up to that, it just makes you feel better. And I think that in my thirties, that’s where I’m at. I’m not saying I’m done with enjoying myself, I still drink. I love red wine, I love a nice meal, but it’s not every day.”
Ed had a breakthrough hit A Team, which peaked at Number three in 2011. Three years later in June 2014 he went on to bag his first Number 1 single with Sing, featuring Pharrell Williams. Since then he has become one of the most popular acts in chart history in the UK and US.
In 2017, all 16 tracks of his album Divide debuted inside the UK Top 40, necessitating a change that entries in the chart are now limited to three per lead artist. And earlier this year Ed achieved his ninth Official UK Number 1 album with Play.
Ed used to barely run a mile but is now into staying fit(Image: Patrik Giardino / Men’s Health)Ed Sheeran stars on the cover of Men’s Health UK(Image: Patrik Giardino / Men’s Health)
He is married to Cherry Seaborn, and they have two daughters, Lyra Antarctica and Jupiter Seaborn Sheeran. Ed said he was inspired by the fitness routine of fellow artists like Stormy who does press ups before going on stage. But he thinks any parent his age will likely relate to his lifestyle changes.
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. And the thing with reformer [pilates] is, it’s something anyone can start off with and it’s a really gentle introduction to [fitness]. I’m not saying we all need to run marathons and blah, blah, blah. I’m also not selling super-healthy eating or this or that…It’s all about moderation.”
* The full interview is in the next issue of Men’s Health UK on sale 23 December, or now on the MH website.
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