Ed Sheeran Credits Stopping Smoking And Starting Exercising For 50-Lb Weight Loss
During an appearance on the Behind the Medal podcast back in 2019, the "Shape of You" singer recalled how exercise and generally taking care of himself had taken a back seat once his music career began, and once he had started smoking. However, his health drastically improved once he stopped!
"I didn't even touch exercise for a long time. I was really into sports as a kid and then started music and started smoking, and then it all kind of went out the window," the "Perfect" singer said on the podcast. He then explained that things changed once he gave up smoking in 2016, and started running to help his lungs improve.
Sheeran reportedly goes on a 45-minute run in the morning, and occasionally does swimming and sit-ups too. But it's the running that seems to have had the biggest impact!
Speaking about running, the "Shivers" hitmaker said at the time: "I stopped smoking three years ago and ever since then started exercising. I love it. I started doing it because when I stopped smoking, I was very aware that my lungs were so full of [expletive] that I needed to clear them out. Gyms are good but there's nothing like fresh air to really give you a clean out. That's, for me, the main reason why I started doing it."
The "Thinking Out Loud" singer also said: "I've gotten really into cycling as well, and there's no way you can, like, check emails or watch TV shows. You're either with someone talking, or you're thinking. And it's a really good thing."
Ed Sheeran Reportedly Lost Weight By Stopping 'All The Bad Habit Stuff'
It wasn't just quitting smoking and getting back into exercising that helped the "Lego House" singer, as he also explained how important changing his diet was for his overall weight loss transformation. According to People, Sheeran noticed a difference in his weight when he cut out excess chicken wings, wine and constant takeaways.
"It's the first time I've been really healthy," the "A Team" singer said back in 2021, adding: "I've kind of stopped all the bad habit stuff in my life. Started exercising every day. I was eating like a takeaway every single day, and now I don't eat takeaway every single day and it's been good." He also added: "It just happened. And because I wasn't having chicken wings and two bottles of wine a night."
Speaking of his old habits, Sheeran recalled how touring America was very detrimental for his waistline and overall health, saying: "It's always America that gets me. America in buses. You finish a gig in America, you get a tray of chicken wings, sit in the back of the bus, watch The Simpsons, drink a couple of bottles of wine. But then that's every single day, so it just piles on you."
He then went on to explain how things have now changed for him. "But these last few years, because it's been bigger shows, they take longer to set up so you have a bit longer time in between so you can have a routine," he continued, adding: "Wherever you go, there's always a cool place to run."