Fitness influencer Will Tennyson recently embarked on an ambitious week-long experiment: testing every possible method to build muscle, from controversial supplements to unconventional training techniques.
The results were surprising, to say the least.
In his latest video, Tennyson put his body through the ultimate muscle-building gauntlet, spending hundreds of dollars and even administering his first-ever injection—all in the name of discovering what actually works.
What he found might change how you think about supplements, training tools, and natural performance enhancement.
Jump to:
- Testing Turkesterone Platinum: The $100 Gamble
- Injectable L-Carnitine: Maximum Effectiveness, Maximum Fear
- Carb Mouth Rinsing: Science-Backed Trickery
- Methylene Blue: The Overstimulation Nightmare
- Torque Training Equipment: Mechanical Advantage
- Blood Flow Restriction: Painful Pumps With Minimal Weight
- The Undisputed Champion: Optimized Sleep
- The Final Rankings
Testing Turkesterone Platinum: The $100 Gamble
Tennyson kicked off his experiment with Turk Builder Platinum, the premium version of the internet’s most controversial supplement. At $100 per box and $2.50 per pill, this wasn’t just any turkesterone—it was the “Magnum” version packed with Russian plant extracts.
This is not the regular Turkesterone. This is the Platinum version, which is $20 more. And I’m just getting condom packaging vibes.
The controversy surrounding turkesterone stems from conflicting research, with many studies suggesting it doesn’t work at all. However, proponents claim there’s a significant difference between authentic and counterfeit products.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The Workout Results Were Unexpected
Thirty minutes after taking three capsules—the maximum dose—Tennyson hit the gym for leg day. The effects became apparent during hack squats, an exercise that typically terrifies him.
He increased his weight by five pounds from the previous week and expected to fall short of 10 reps. Instead, he completed two sets of 10 with what he described as unprecedented aggression and focus.
The fact that I just got two sets of 10 reps on that is insane. Now, I don’t know if it’s the Turk or the need for this stuff to be worth $100 for me, but I’m starting to feel something.
The pump was equally impressive. His quads gained nearly an inch, and after just four sets of biceps, his arms grew from 16.25 inches to 17 inches—remarkable for someone who doesn’t typically do pump training.
Final verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Effective for natural lifters seeking enhanced pumps, but probably unnecessary for those already on performance-enhancing drugs.
Injectable L-Carnitine: Maximum Effectiveness, Maximum Fear
Next came Tennyson’s first-ever injection: L-carnitine, administered intramuscularly into his glute. While oral L-carnitine supplements had been useless for him in the past, the injectable version supposedly offers dramatically different results.
I feel like somehow this is going to get me pregnant or something. I don’t know. Do we remember when fitness was just chicken and rice?
The science behind injectable L-carnitine is compelling. It shuttles fatty acids into mitochondria where they can be oxidized to produce ATP, the body’s primary energy currency. Elite athletes, including some Nike-sponsored runners, reportedly undergo four-hour infusions to raise their L-carnitine levels.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The Endurance Boost Was Real
Despite initial nausea and butt pain, the effects became undeniable during training. While his first set of chest press matched his previous week’s performance, the second set revealed something special.
Second set moved as good, if not better, than my first set. I definitely felt more recovered and had more endurance in that set than normal.
The reduced muscle burn was particularly noticeable during lateral raises—an exercise notorious for creating intense burning sensations. Tennyson described it as “failing because of the muscle and not the burn.”
His pump was so extreme that his skin felt “shrink wrapped” to his body, and he completed an extra set of weighted pull-ups due to faster recovery between sets.
Final verdict: 3 out of 5 stars. Highly effective (5/5 for effectiveness), but the practicality of injecting yourself 2-3 times weekly significantly lowered the overall score.
Carb Mouth Rinsing: Science-Backed Trickery
For this experiment, Tennyson recruited friend and evidence-based fitness expert Jeff Nippard to test carb mouth rinsing—a technique backed by over 30 research studies.
The protocol is simple: swish a carbohydrate drink in your mouth for 5-10 seconds, then spit it out. Receptors in your mouth detect the carbohydrates and signal your brain that fuel is coming, temporarily reducing perceived effort and increasing motor output.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The Spit Bucket Experiment
Both lifters performed two exercises—incline chest press and seated dumbbell lateral raises—first without carb rinsing, then again after a 10-minute rest with the technique.
On incline press, Tennyson jumped from 14 reps to 17 reps on his second (fatigued) set after carb rinsing. Nippard added one rep despite being more skeptical.
It actually felt like when you spit out, you felt the effect of when the pre-workout kicked in.
For lateral raises, Tennyson increased from 21 to 23 reps, while Nippard acknowledged the surprising consistency of results.
However, both remained cautious about placebo effects, noting that proper scientific studies use blinded comparisons with carb-free solutions that taste identical.
Final verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. Effective and practical (just Gatorade and a bucket), though some skepticism about placebo remained.
Methylene Blue: The Overstimulation Nightmare
Methylene blue, the first man-made medicine ever used on humans, has recently resurfaced as an alleged underground weapon for gym performance. It supposedly helps mitochondria produce energy more efficiently.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The experience was not pleasant.
My resting heart rate is 92. I feel like I took a very high stim pre-workout. When I’m breathing, the air feels thicker.
Mental Chaos in Physical Form
While Tennyson experienced an incredible pump, his performance suffered dramatically. He miscounted sets, didn’t realize his music wasn’t playing, and paced around the gym “like a caged tiger.”
His weights were down significantly across all exercises, and he repeatedly miscounted reps—thinking he completed 10 when he actually did 9, or believing he got 7 when footage showed only 6.
I feel like I’m either going to ascend or cease to exist. It’s just one of those two things.
Despite the amazing pump and mood boost, the lack of focus and reduced strength made this impossible to recommend.
Final verdict: 2.5 out of 5 stars. The pump and energy don’t compensate for compromised mental performance.
Torque Training Equipment: Mechanical Advantage
Tennyson trained with Eric Janicki, owner of Torque and described as “the largest human I’ve ever seen in person,” to test specialized training equipment designed to maximize muscle stimulus while minimizing injury risk.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The philosophy behind Torque centers on progressive overload through mechanics rather than constantly adding weight.
Three Tools, Three Benefits
The Torque Wedge allowed Tennyson to perform hack squats with dramatically improved depth and zero knee pain—something he typically struggles with. Two plates felt challenging with proper form, whereas he normally uses five plates.
The ROM Block (chest expander) attached to pressing machines, adding several inches of range of motion and naturally positioning the shoulders for optimal chest engagement.
When I come back here, I can’t even bottom out the machine even if I wanted to. And then when I press out, I’m almost falling back into it.
The Torque Handles featured dual contact points—at both the hand and forearm—eliminating grip as a limiting factor during pulling movements.
The result? Tennyson could focus entirely on the target muscle without worrying about his grip failing first.
Final verdict: 4.8 out of 5 stars, the highest-ranked item tested. Effective and practical for long-term joint health, though buying the complete line represents a significant investment.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Blood Flow Restriction: Painful Pumps With Minimal Weight
Blood flow restriction (BFR) training involves wrapping bands around limbs to partially occlude blood flow, theoretically allowing muscle growth with just 10-30% of your one-rep max.
Tennyson performed unilateral training—one arm or leg with BFR, one without—to directly compare the effects.
The Science Behind the Burn
Dr. Mike Israetel explained that BFR traps metabolites in the muscle, causing some motor units to fatigue quickly. The remaining motor units must work harder to compensate, creating significant muscle activation with light loads.
During bicep curls with 15-pound dumbbells, the BFR side felt dramatically harder. For leg extensions with just 90 pounds, Tennyson described it as “basically doing a single leg extension.”
The measurement differences were striking:
- Quads: The non-BFR leg maintained size; the BFR leg added a full inch
- Arms: Non-BFR reached nearly 17 inches; BFR achieved 17.25 inches
However, Tennyson experienced tingles in his toes and questioned whether he was “biohacking or mildly injuring myself.”
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Final verdict: 2 out of 5 stars. While effective for specific contexts (injury rehabilitation, elite bodybuilding), it’s impractical and unnecessary for 99% of gym-goers.
The Undisputed Champion: Optimized Sleep
For his final test, Tennyson optimized everything controllable: sleep quality, nutrition timing, hydration, and pre-workout fueling.
He used red light therapy before bed, read instead of scrolling, and took two tablets of Trazodone for enhanced sleep quality.
I literally slept like a medieval king after a feast. Like I don’t even remember falling asleep.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
His Oura ring recorded remarkable sleep metrics:
The workout that followed was transformative. Tennyson felt like “a well-oiled machine” with natural energy he hadn’t experienced in months.
He increased his rowing weight by 15 pounds instead of his usual 5-pound increment and achieved PR-level performance across all exercises.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
I have all the best aspects of all the supplements I’ve taken in this video during this workout. I have a great pump. I have great endurance. I have all the focus. I have the energy. I have the strength. And I didn’t really take anything.
The Uncomfortable Truth
Tennyson’s revelation struck at the heart of supplement marketing: people spend hundreds avoiding eight hours of unconsciousness.
Sleep optimization delivered every benefit promised by expensive supplements—enhanced pump, superior endurance, laser focus, increased strength—without side effects or ongoing costs.
Final verdict: 5 out of 5 stars across all criteria. The only method tested that achieved perfect scores for effectiveness, value, and practicality.
The Final Rankings
After testing seven different muscle-building methods, Tennyson’s rankings revealed surprising truths about what actually works:
- Optimized Sleep: 5.0 stars
- Torque Equipment: 4.8 stars
- Carb Mouth Rinsing: 4.5 stars
- Turkesterone Platinum: 3.5 stars
- Injectable L-Carnitine: 3.0 stars
- Methylene Blue: 2.5 stars
- Blood Flow Restriction: 2.0 stars
The experiment demonstrated that the best performance-enhancing supplement is ourselves—properly rested, adequately fueled, and consistently hydrated.
Recovery isn’t sold in tubs. It’s earned through prioritizing fundamentals that cost nothing but require discipline.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
As Tennyson concluded, if you’re stuck on a plateau, the solution might not be another supplement bottle—it might just be putting your phone down before bed.
