The Incredible Discipline of Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow is pretty much a household name. Whether you know him from his time as a pro athlete, you’re a fan of his favorite snacks, or you’ve been following along as his foundation strives to change the world, we're willing to bet that you at least know who Tim Tebow is.

But do you know why he does the things that he does? 

From eating one of the most disciplined diets we’ve ever heard of to continuing to push himself to work harder each day, Tebow’s discipline and drive are in a whole different league. We wanted to know where this motivation came from, so when we got the chance to ask him a few questions, we dove right in. 

Headlines Over Sidelines:  It’s been said that you haven’t had a soda since you were 15, and don’t often allow yourself cheat days. Where does that level of discipline come from, and how do you navigate food cravings and temptations?

Tim Tebow: I started becoming more interested in health as I was playing sports in my teens. I started to take seriously that God gives us one body and one life, and it’s our job to take care of it. 

I try to be as strict as possible when it comes to my diet, but I haven’t been perfect. I’ve had a few sips of ginger ale when I’ve been sick and a couple cheat meals, but since I learned about the benefits of a low-sugar and low-carb diet, I knew that lifestyle was something I wanted to commit to. I believe that what we put into our bodies either gives or takes life, so I try my best to be careful about what I eat. 

This isn’t always easy to do, and again, I’m not perfect at it (I was in a donut shop in Asheville, North Carolina recently, and the smell was unreal!) But I think that level of discipline comes from knowing that the more I fuel my body with good, healthy foods, the better I feel, and the more I’ll be able to live a mission-driven life every day. 

Another way that I navigate food cravings and temptations is by eating foods that taste good and are low in sugar. That’s why NuSkool bars are great. The chocolate peanut butter and lemon cookie bars are some of my favorites!

H/S: You’re an outspoken fan and follower of the ketogenic diet. Can you talk a little bit about what your daily diet looks like, in addition to snacks from NuSkool? Has this diet changed at all since your time in pro sports?

TT: I’m a believer in avoiding foods that are harmful to us like processed sugars and lots of carbs. One of the diets that fits with that approach is the ketogenic diet. Technically, I’m on a little bit of a modified keto diet. Basically, I eat a good amount of fat, [a] decent amount of protein, veggies, and very little carbs. My wife, Demi, is really great about helping me stick to this. For breakfast, sometimes she’ll make eggs and bacon with a side of avocado and some berries. For dinner, she loves making a really good vegetable soup, and she crushes it!

When I’m traveling, eating healthy isn’t as easy, so I always make sure to keep a variety of snacks like NuSkool bars with me. That way, if I’m getting hungry (or hangry, as some would say) and don’t have time for a meal, I know I have something good to eat that isn’t going to get me off track. Also, NuSkool bars are keto-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-based, and have no added sugars or artificial sweeteners, which is pretty impressive!

H/S: Living a healthy life is clearly very important to you. What habits, products, or practices do you employ daily to help maintain both your physical and mental well-being?

TT: Staying disciplined with my diet is just one of the ways I maintain a healthy lifestyle. I think that being healthy is more than just consistent meal choices, so I like to take a holistic approach with cold tubs and cryotherapy, vitamin-rich IVs, and infrared saunas, just to name a few. I also try to be intentional about weight training even when I’m on the road and don’t have a lot of time. Between meetings, speaking engagements, work with our team at the Tim Tebow Foundation and time with family, I do my best to prioritize a workout because of the physical and mental benefits.

On a perfect week, I try to lift at least six times. I don’t always have perfect weeks, so sometimes it’s more like four to five times. But in a typical week, Mondays I focus on lower body, speed, and explosiveness. Tuesdays are push/pull. Wednesdays are core. Thursdays are lower body again. Fridays are shoulders. Saturdays are arms. Again, I don’t always get to stick to this exact routine, but if I get the opportunity to work out, even if it’s just push-ups, squats, or core work in a hotel room, I’ll gladly take it!

H/S: You’ve accomplished so much already, from collegiate and professional football to becoming a well-known philanthropist, entrepreneur, author, and even an on-air analyst. Do you feel like you’ve reached the top of the mountain, and if not, what is the ultimate goal for you?

TT: I’ve been so blessed to have some awesome experiences in my life, but I’m also very grateful for the failures and hard times because they’ve given me a testimony to encourage others with. It’s such a privilege to get the chance to speak around the world and write books to hopefully impact people in a positive way. And working as a college football analyst for ESPN allows me to stay connected to the game I love. 

I believe that my biggest calling is to keep fighting every day to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people. There isn’t an end date on that. So, no, I haven’t reached the mountain top. We still have more work to do, more people to reach, more lives to get to. Ultimately, my end goal is to look back on my life one day and know that I did all I could to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

But, more than anything, what I’m most passionate about is the work we get to do at the Tim Tebow Foundation (TTF) – a nonprofit I started in 2010. Our mission is to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. I’m so proud of our team and that we are now fighting for some of the most vulnerable people in the world in over 86 countries and counting. Some of the ways we get to serve include:

• Hosting a worldwide prom for people with special needs called Night to Shine (the 10th anniversary is coming up in February 2024!)
• Providing life-changing surgeries at the Tebow CURE Hospital in the Philippines
• Granting over 100 wish experiences to children with life-threatening illnesses through our W15H program
• Building and supporting 20 safe homes for human trafficking survivors with 14 more in progress

I believe that my biggest calling is to keep fighting every day to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people. There isn’t an end date on that. So, no, I haven’t reached the mountain top. We still have more work to do, more people to reach, more lives to get to. Ultimately, my end goal is to look back on my life one day and know that I did all I could to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

H/S: Speaking of all the things you’ve done, how do you think you were able to be so successful in multiple different collegiate and professional sports, and do you think that same mindset has transferred to you being successful in multiple different fields outside of sports, as well? 

TT: Well, I definitely haven’t always been successful. I’ve been cut four or five times from sports teams. Most probably wouldn’t consider that success! But I believe life teaches us so much through ‘setbacks,’ and how those moments can truly be ‘setups’ for growth, and opportunities to improve and make a difference.

When I think about success in sports and in life, I think it comes down to being disciplined and intentional. In sports, I was self-disciplined to practice and work out at crazy times of the day or night. When I wasn’t actively playing in a game or practicing, I was intentional with how I spent my downtime, what I ate, what I listened to, etc. so that I would be in the best physical shape and mindset when game time came around.

I’ve tried to carry that same discipline and intentionality to my life outside of sports. I talked about how I try to stay disciplined with my diet and how I’m intentional with any free time I get to keep working toward my fitness goals, but I’m also intentional about time with my family and friends and the business opportunities I take on, and that includes brand partnerships.  

When I came across NuSkool Snacks and saw their commitment to helping people eat healthy while on the go so they can be the best versions of themselves, it really caught my attention. When I intentionally partner with companies like NuSkool whose mission and products I believe in, we’re naturally able to be successful and make a difference together.

H/S: Where do you find the motivation to keep pushing yourself to learn, grow, and achieve more when you’ve already conquered so much?

TT: A couple months ago, I posted on LinkedIn encouraging people to listen to a podcast, attend a seminar, take a course, find or meet with a mentor, ask for feedback… That’s because I truly believe that you’re never too young or too old to learn more. 

My motivation to keep pushing myself to learn, grow and achieve comes from not wanting to be the best but wanting to be my best, and I think that’s a goal that we all can work toward. Whether it’s working toward our physical goals or spiritual goals, the little things we do each day add up and contribute to the bigger picture. And that includes choosing to grab a low-sugar snack bar instead of a candy bar! I try to remind myself that the grind may not always be exciting at times, but there is power in the details. The more we work on being our best selves little by little, day by day, the better and bigger impact we’re able to make.

Want more from Tim Tebow? Follow him @timtebow, check out the Tim Tebow Foundation, or sample his favorite NuSkool snacks here.