For Robert Timms there are literally not enough hours in the day.
Robert Timms is a Classic Physique pro bodybuilder who is making waves in the sport. Most recently, Timms won the Texas Pro and shortly after posted incredible physique photos. It turned many heads and put him in the conversation to be a threat to Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead. With such incredible improvements and success – the world may be shocked to learn that Timms only sleeps three hours per day. How does he do it without burning out? In our latest GI Exclusive, Robert Timms explains why he only sleeps three hours per day and how it affects his bodybuilding career.
Modern science has made one thing clear over the past many decades – getting enough sleep per day is extremely important to your health and well being. This fact is even more important to competitive bodybuilders. The body needs rest in order to repair and grow. The less a bodybuilder rests, the less optimal their muscle growth and conditioning will be.
Apparently, Robert Timms is the exception to this rule.
We connected with Robert Timms via video chat this month to discuss his bodybuilding prep in 2021, his future plans, and his thoughts on trending topics in the sport. During our discussion – he revealed that he only gets three hours of sleep per day. Every single day. His reasoning behind this is due to the various responsibilities he pursues in his daily life. He’s part time military, holds an additional full time job, and competes as a pro bodybuilder. For Robert Timms, there are quite literally not enough hours in a day to get everything done.
Robert Timms has broken down his daily routine into a rigorous schedule. In order to work his two jobs and stay on point with his deeply focused bodybuilding prep – he only schedules in three hours of sleep. He’s done this for so long that he’s simply used to it. He even said he would be scared to see what switching back to a full eight hours would do to his life.
So how does he pull it off without burning out? Robert Timms has no explanation. He understands completely that there is no scientific way he should be able to succeed with so little sleep. He doesn’t do it because he wants to. He does it because he has to. He needs his full time job and his part time job alongside bodybuilding. Not only this – but each one is his passion.
“During my preps I’m mostly running off of adrenaline,” Robert Timms states in our interview. He continues:
“So I’m running off of excitement… and honest to God it’s a blessing to be able to do what I do at this level and not get the full amount of sleep and work a full time job and work a part time job as well. That’s the only way I can explain it. Because there is no way that I should be able to do all of this and be able to produce at the end of the day. Like, scientifically there should be no way to do what I’m doing.”
Vlad Yudin then asks Robert Timms how he does it. If it’s impossible, why does he succeed against all odds and scientific explanation? Robert Timms then simply points to the sky. It’s God. That’s the only way he can rationalize it.
Robert Timms also takes a moment to say that his methods should not be repeated by those who look up to his success and physique. What works for him does not necessarily work for everyone. He acknowledges that science is right – humans do need at least eight hours of sleep. Perhaps Timms is simply the exception… or has a rough collapse further down the road.
You can watch Robert Timms talk in detail about his sleep habits and bodybuilding schedule in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
