Hard work pays off - this is most certainly a true statement. But hard work at the cost of rest and sleep? That is NOT the way to go at all. Often times people feel like they need to optimize their life by cutting out sleep so they can get more work in. This is not a good idea. While training in the gym is necessary to see gains - the real growth happens when you rest. Muscle tissue rebuilds bigger and stronger than ever and cutting even a few hours off of your sleep schedule can cause some serious damage. Not only to your gains but your overall health as well. br br This kind of talk is often seen as a joke - pushed aside and scoffed at as fluff talk. But the reality is that sleep and rest are paramount for a successful physique.