Dan Reynolds Opens Up About How Diet and Exercise Changed His Life

Dan Reynolds is known for his energetic (and oftentimes shirtless) performances, but the Imagine Dragons frontman hasn't always flaunted a sculpted physique. In fact, his reason for getting fit had nothing to do with looks at all. It was all about health, and managing issues without being reliant on pain killers.

During a recent interview with Mens Health, the 31-year-old opened up about how changing his diet and getting into a regular exercise routine transformed his life. For years, the singer-songwriter lived with a rare autoimmune disease called ankylosing spondylitis (AS), which is an inflammation of the spine that can cause pain in other parts of the body. In 2012, he remembers barely being able to hold his newborn daughter and not being able to move onstage during ID performances. He had also been dealing with ulcerative colitis and bouts of depression since his teenage years, and decided he wanted to battle his ailments without the help of drugs.

“Pain medication ruins your vocal cords, and immunosuppressants made me get sinus infections all the time,” he explained to the outlet. “I really had no other option than to completely clean up my diet and exercise every day.”

And though he admits he told his personal trainer he wanted to look like a super hero, Reynolds is most proud about 2018 being his healthiest year yet. 

“I’ve finally resolved a lot of these issues in my life,” he said. “This has been the first time in ten years that I can say I have no depression. Sadness? Hell yeah—it’s included some of the saddest times in my life—but no depression. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been.”

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