Ed Sheeran’s weight increased to 15 stone as he indulged on chicken, wine and beer: ‘I knew I was big’

Ed picked up ‘unhealthy’ habits once he stopped touring two years ago (Picture: Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

Ed Sheeran has recalled how his weight increased to 15 stone once he stopped touring, as he developed a taste for chicken and alcohol. 

The Shape Of You singer, who is set to release his new album = (Equals) on Friday, took a break from touring and the spotlight in August 2019 when his Divide tour ended. 

With all the time in the world, Ed, 30, adopted habits that he’s said were ‘the worst thing for [his] health’. 

‘I loved chicken wings, wine, beer, and I never exercised,’ the singer told The Sun. 

He revealed: ‘Since becoming a dad I’ve become quite clean-living. But I think actually taking time off and not being on tour was the worst thing for my health because I would drink every single day.’ 

The Bad Habits singer stopped drinking three months before his daughter Lyra, now 15 months, was born as he was ‘determined’ to be there for wife Cherry. 

The musician said his weight increased to 15 stone but he’s since lost five (Picture: GC Images)

He credited wife Cherry and daughter Lyra for motivating him (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I was 15-and-a-half stone at my peak and I think I’m ten-and-a-half now – I was big, it really showed. I had a 36 waist — now I’m down to 28,’ he revealed. 

‘I always knew I was big, but I knew why I was big too – I loved chicken wings, wine, beer, and I never exercised.’ 

Ed isn’t completely depriving himself as he still drinks wine occasionally, but doesn’t want to ‘quit’ entirely for fear he’d descend back into binging. 

He explained how the ‘penny dropped’ when Cherry fell pregnant and described baby daughter Lyra as the ‘biggest motivation in terms of detoxing my life’. 

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The Thinking Out Loud singer is currently self-isolating after he and Lyra tested positive for Covid. It means the pair will have to spend 10 days away from Cherry as she tested negative at the time. 

Ed will be returning to the charts with the release of his new album, =, tomorrow. He’s been carrying out his promotional duties virtually from home and has had to pull out of hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend.

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