Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran opened about his past struggles with weight gain and self image on an episode of Behind the Medal podcast as reported by E! News. Sheeran went on to reminisce about his 2014-2015 X Tour and Divide Tour in 2017, a phase which according to him were riddled with poor lifestyle choices.
The Grammy-award winning singer remembered weighing more than a 100 kgs during the X Tour of 2014-2015 and the start of the Divide Tour 2017. Sheeran noted that at the time he was excessively drinking and eating without much exercise.
“My problem was I’d go to the pub, have bangers and mash, a pie, maybe a pudding and then loads of pints. And then not exercise,” he said. “My friends used to call me Two Dinners Teddy. On tour, it’s very easy to drink every single day because there’s always someone visiting” he added.
The “Shape of you” singer also recalled being in the back of the tour bus with a tray of chicken wings and bottles of wine after every show in America. “It’s always America that gets me—America in buses,” he said.
Since then Sheeran has lost about 22 kgs through regular exercise which has also led him to quit smoking. Although the singer called his desire to quit smoking as the main reason to start exercising, the artist did admit that there was external pressure. He remembers being subjected to fat shaming online by both individuals and publications previously.
“You kind of get it in your head that you need to look like everyone else,” Sheeran said as he referenced One Direction and Justin Beiber. “I never once had any insecurities really about myself until people pointed them out” the singer added.
