Ed Sheeran lost 50 lbs over a year by basically just cutting beer out of his diet

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Ed Sheeran is back with new music after taking a year off. He literally went on a “gap year” from his career after he completed his last tour. He apparently traveled around the world for pleasure, drank beer, spent time with friends and recorded a new album, Divide. The album doesn’t come out until March, but the first two singles, “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You.” are already climbing the charts. Anyway, Ed is back to on promotional duty, and in a rare turn, a guy actually got some questions about health, diet, what he does to stay in shape. More of this, please. Even if the answer is typical guy sh-t, which is that all Ed had to do to keep the pounds off was stop drinking so much beer.

Ed Sheeran is back from his year-long hiatus, and while his time off included a lot of exciting adventures, it also apparently included some unwelcome changes to the singer’s body.

“I doubled in size,” the English crooner shared during his interview with The Breakfast Club this morning. “Sweatpants were the only things that fit and I thought everything had shrunk in the wash, but it hadn’t.”

Sheeran explained that he didn’t realize he would “balloon” during his break from the industry, and so made the decision to cut off one very specific thing that seemed to help him lose 50 (!) pounds.

“It was the beer,” the 25-year-old revealed. “Well, I’m back on beer now, because I’m fine, but I cut out beer for a bit and started exercising which was quite weird.” He added, “I didn’t realize how much I burned on stage. I stopped touring and I just ballooned instantly.”

Sheeran famously took a gap year (a year to travel) in 2016, but recently returned with a fresh album, Divide, and plenty of stories to share from his 12 months behind the scenes.

With his ladylove by his side, the pair jetsetted across the globe to enjoy the sights of places he’d always wanted to visit. “I’ve been to Japan, but you know, for me, Japan was a Tokyo hotel. I wanted to see the actual country. I went to Ghana, spent like a month in Ghana, which was nice. Spent like two weeks in Iceland. Australia…I went to places I wanted to go to, because when you tour, you pretty much see a hotel room, a venue, a bar, and you never really see the country.”

[From E! News]

While I’m a big fan of celebrities talking about cutting out alcohol from their diets (because I did it too and I recommend it), it always pisses me off that men can lose weight so easily. Most men can just decide one day that they need to get in shape, then they visit the gym a few times a week and stop drinking so much beer and BAM, they’ve lost 50 pounds. It’s never that easy for women. I also think this is telling for Ed: “I didn’t realize how much I burned on stage. I stopped touring and I just ballooned instantly.” That’s why so many musicians/entertainers can eat whatever they like, because they’re burning through so many calories on stage, night after night.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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50 Responses to “Ed Sheeran lost 50 lbs over a year by basically just cutting beer out of his diet”

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  1. Wilma says:

    I really like that he took the time to really travel. Great way to broaden your horizons.

    • MissMarierose says:

      I agree. Hopefully, it will bring a maturity and diversity to his song lyrics. After all, if you’ve experienced more of life, you have more to say.

    • Alex says:

      I see another Calvin whats his face

  2. Red says:

    I hear you. I feel like, for the most part, men have it much easier than women when they try to lose weight. I cut out sugary drinks for a few months, and I didn’t lose any weight. 50 pounds will probably take me two years of hard exercise to lose.

  3. JA says:

    But like damn! How much beer are you drinking that you lose 50lbs??? Sounds like Ed needs to focus on moderation other than anything. You can drink beer/wine liquor IF you do so moderately and still stay in great shape. Just yikes on thinking how much he drank daily :-/

    • HeidiM says:

      My Hubby gave up beer in Nov and is already down 40lbs. He was drinking a 6 pack nearly every night.

    • Erinn says:

      He might be like a lot of people – when he drinks he snacks? I know a lot of time “going out for a drink” turns into getting appetizers in some form as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if passing on the beer meant less snacking too just because they’re often tied together.

    • Veronica says:

      Not as much as you think. It’s a pretty hefty carb where calories are concerned, and most people tend to snack at the same time. One of my coworkers told me she used to be 40 pounds lighter before she hit 21 and started partying with her older college classmates.

      It probably doesn’t hurt that he mentions increasing his exercise regimen. The more muscle you have, the easier it is to burn. That’s why men generally find it easier to lose weight.

    • Wilma says:

      To be fair: he says that he also started excercising.

  4. Lucy says:

    Well, he looks really good. And what I like about him is that he went completely dark. No appearances, no social media, nothing. Also, I love his new songs!

  5. Jessica says:

    They really can, the guys. My husband accidentally lost 40 lbs. by cutting out hard cider. That was it. He still drinks wine and cocktails.🙄

  6. minx says:

    It’s because he’s a 25 year old male. That’s their version of a diet.
    My son is 25.

    • Shijel says:

      Pretty much. All I do when I cut my alcohol intake down is lose some bloat around my face. Am 25-yo female. Even though my metabolism’s still quick, no way in hell I could lose weight by simply cutting out drinks to lose weight.

      Excuse me now while I go and stare lividly, enviously at my also 25-year-old beanpole significant other from the doorway.

      • Erinn says:

        I’m 26 – I’m the same. If I cut out drinking – which is usually only in moderation anyway – I might lose some weight in my face or whatever, but it wouldn’t do much overall. My metabolism isn’t great – I have an office job and tend to skip meals too often out of convenience/not really being hungry.

        My husband isn’t much of a drinker, but he’s bad for snacking. But he has a much more active job, so it’s not so bad for him. He cut out gluten a couple of years ago because there was some concern over whether he might have celiac – and he dropped weight like mad. Probably 40lbs in a couple of months – because bread/pastry type foods are his weakness. In the end he didn’t have celiac, so he jumped back onto that wagon haha.

  7. MissMerry says:

    do you know what rang like a bell when I read the authors sentences … “it always pisses me off that men can lose weight so easily. Most men can just decide one day that they need to get in shape, then they visit the gym a few times a week and stop drinking so much beer and BAM, they’ve lost 50 pounds. It’s never that easy for women.”

    Maybe men do ‘lose weight easier’ than women but I think that truly the biggest difference is the outside eyes and expectations between men and women losing weight.

    If a man loses weight, he could still look soft or heavy or nothing like some hollywood hunk, but get compliments because he looks different…

    if a WOMAN tries to lose weight, she hasn’t REALLY lost weight until she’s muscular, rail-thin and less than 1/2 her starting size and 1/3 her starting weight.

    a guy loses 10 lbs and he gets a parade, a cheat meal and gets laid. a girl loses 10 lbs and all she gets is a ‘yeah…thats great…but you’re not done yet are you?…keep going!”

    also, using the ‘gap year’ to describe a rich artist taking a year off from touring? no man…you’re just taking a vacation.

    • k37744 says:

      Agreed.

      Men and women’s “ideal weights” vary vastly. Men can cut down on booze and reach a healthy, normal base weight. That’s where the body wants to keep you, so it’ll naturally be easier to maintain.

      A woman will strive for ‘2017 magazine cover can you see my collarbones but how many ribs do I have’ dysfunction. And that ain’t natural or as easy as cutting back on beer alone. It’s an uphill fight the entire time.

    • littlemissnaughty says:

      Really? That has not been my experience. A few years ago I lost around 40lbs and yes, of course I received compliments for that. But last year I lost 20 (I worked out quite a bit so it might have looked more because I gained a small amount of muscle) and the same thing happened. Now, I am still technically a bit overweight (yeah, I was seriously overweight before) so I don’t think women have to go to ridiculously low weights or look like the Hulk before anyone notices. Nobody side-eyed me asking if I was done yet.

      But to lose 50lbs is HARD work for me. Also, it’s Monday and a crappy one at that. So Ed Sheeran can stop talking about how he just put the beer back on the shelf an poof! He was thin.

      • Wilma says:

        Mine neither. I lost 40 pounds last year and am still pretty overweight. I just carry it well, nice and evenly distributed. And now people are telling me I shouldn’t lose more weight! I got another 40 to go before I have a BMI of 25. The moment people know you’re working on your body is the moment they feel there’s a license to comment to your face.
        People really should stop commenting so much on other people’s weight.

      • littlemissnaughty says:

        I don’t even like the compliments that much when they’re so specific. “You look great” is appreciated but “Oh you lost weight, looks good” is not. Because I don’t like ANY comment on my body. It means people also notice when I gain weight. But they mean well and I refuse to become THAT person in whose presence you can’t say anything anymore. I just change the topic.

  8. Pip says:

    I think that’s a huge generalisation about men finding it easier than women to lose weight: my poor OH has a constant battle to stay in shape (he works physically all day too) – he’s one of those “look at a cake & puts on a pound” kind of people. Whereas if I’m not careful about eating enough, weight drops off me.

    • minx says:

      How old is he? I think Sheeran’s age also works to his benefit. Also, as others have said, he may have been eating while he was drinking.

      • Pip says:

        We’re both in our forties now but he’s been like it for as long as I’ve known him (late 20s).

      • minx says:

        Yes, some people–it’s just metabolism.

      • Amanduh says:

        Something to ponder: why isn’t it “fourties”? Why did we lose a U? Where’s the logic?!

      • Sixer says:

        Same with me and Mr Sixer. His weakness is cheese but he has to keep it under control because he puts on weight really easily. I can eat what I like when I like and never put on a pound. Put me under any stress or panic, though, and I’ll lose a stone in a week (even while eating more cos I’m fed up).

    • Liberty says:

      Mr Liberty woke up one day on vacation and said, ” I want to lose twenty pounds, I think extra weight’s affecting my golf game.” He’s not overweight, but he was getting the creep of dad body. Five weeks later, with little effort, he was twenty-five pounds lighter and his swing was back. He cut out COFFEE, switched to light beer, and walked two extra blocks at lunch. !!!!

      Me, I took ten pounds off a year ago and it was an effort! I wasn’t really eating poorly as I dislike starchy food and prefer eating vegetables and fish, and I am active, but felt that sort of start creeping blubbiness from too much office-chair-sitting, so I decided to be proactive. It took me almost three months to lose 12 lbs.! Gah. We are glad we did it, but I am still annoyed, ha.

  9. Bridget says:

    He is so basic.

  10. Bobafelty says:

    Maybe he followed up the drinking with eating a lot late night. Would also explain the weight loss

    • Alison says:

      That’s my problem with Weight control. With drinking I get the extra alcohol calories + all the CRAP I eat including big portions desserts and bad snacks

  11. Becky says:

    This is what artists do, if they’re in the position they can afford it: take time out, travel, fill up the creative well so to speak. It also lets your audience miss you.

    An overexposed artist friend and collaborator of Sheeran’s should take note *cough*

    • Aren says:

      Not everybody can leave the spotlight for so long without losing followers. If pop stars take a break, chances are the spot would be taken by somebody younger.

      • Becky says:

        I disagree, if they’re high profile and coming off a successful album/tour, then taking a year off shouldn’t affect their popularity.

  12. QueenB says:

    it does not go for every man but men obviously can eat more calories so its easier to diet as you dont have to deprive yourself from everything. an average guy can eat a frozen pizza while dieting for an average woman thats too much. difference in size and muscle mass.

  13. JulP says:

    Beer does contain a lot of calories, so it’s not surprising that he lost weight when he cut it out of his diet. The other problem with alcohol consumption is that you tend to eat more when you drink (or at least I do …). I’d definitely lose some weight if I cut out alcohol, but it’s not worth it to me; I enjoy a good cocktail too much.

  14. Coconut says:

    Beer is high in carbs, whereas wine and spirits are low. Cut your carb/sugar intake, you’ll lose weight. I lose about a pound a week when I eat very few carbs (with not much exercise). I highly recommend Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes. I’m a 52yo woman.

    • Ruby says:

      I also eat a low carb diet. So far I have lost 50 lbs in 6 months, without any exercise regime at all. Keto is the best!

  15. akua says:

    Lol, he went to my country Ghana

  16. aenflex says:

    He looks good. I sure I’d lose weight if I’d just cut out wine from my diet.
    I’ve been to that manor in Framlingham. It’s kind of awesome to hear a song written about it.

    • Jen says:

      I live around that area. It’s so surreal when I listen to the song because I know exactly what he’s talking about! Used to do many of those things he states in the lyrics, in those exact places!

  17. Laurie says:

    He said in another interview that his girlfriend gave him exercise tips. She is a hockey player, so it helps having that influence in your life.

    I love his new songs. Ed is hilarious and so down to earth.

  18. Justmeonlyme says:

    How come there is very little talk or articles about how the Royal Princess (Bea I think) cut his face with a sword goofing around? It’s like that story got buried everywhere. But if the scar is as huge as was initially reported, it’s going to be asked/talked about (unless he has a strict “don’t ask” from Royal Family *cough*

  19. Veronica says:

    Men lose weight easier because they have more muscle tone (burns more calories per gram) and less essential body fat. Female bodies generally prefer weight because they’ve evolved to create highe fat stores in preparation for pregnancy. (Hence why a lot of female athletes experience delayed puberty or lose their period.). Diet is also a huge part of it – high calorie carbohydrates and sugars are the easiest for your body to utilize for glucose production, so it adds on easily, while proteins and fats take more metabolic processing. Hence why people tend to lose weight on low carb diets – and why you can effectively starve to death or develop metabolic acidosis if you lack any sort of carbohydrate in your regular diet. Chemistry is responsible for a lot of our modern day problems with obesity.

    I would love to travel like this someday. If you have the money, it’s a lot of fun.

  20. DahliaDee says:

    In what universe is this man considered attractive?

    • anon1 says:

      That’s just shaming someone for their appearance, male or female. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and all that. I think he’s cute..but then I love redheads.

      • DahliaDee says:

        I’m not shaming anyone. Ora rather, I’m shaming anyone who screams their heads off for this dude, the Biebs, and their likes.

    • Laurie says:

      Actually u are shaming him for not being your idea of attractive. Why backtrack?

  21. kk says:

    It is called cocaine hence the weight loss. He is a known user

    • Laurie says:

      He has been v open about experiences with drugs actually. And he isnt a known user at all. Booze .. on the other hand…