Fitness influencer Will Tennyson recently embarked on an ambitious experiment—testing every popular muscle-building method in just one week.
From his first-ever injection to supplements with questionable legality, Tennyson left no stone unturned.
The results? Some methods delivered shocking pumps and strength gains, while others left him feeling like a “caged tiger” pacing around the gym.
His journey offers a rare glimpse into what actually works—and what’s just expensive placebo.
Jump to:
- The Turkesterone Experiment: $100 Worth of Hype?
- Injectable L-Carnitine: When Supplements Get Serious
- Carb Mouth Rinsing: The Placebo That Works?
- Methylene Blue: The Medicine That Became a Gym Hack
- Torque Gear: Mechanical Advantage Meets Muscle Building
- Blood Flow Restriction: Cutting Off Circulation for Gains
- The Perfect Sleep: Nature’s Performance Enhancer
- The Final Verdict: What Actually Works?
- Sources
The Turkesterone Experiment: $100 Worth of Hype?
Tennyson kicked things off with Turk Builder Platinum, the premium version of the controversial supplement turkesterone that retails for $100 per box.
At $2.50 per pill, it’s not exactly a budget-friendly option.
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 supplement industry’s claims around turkesterone are bold, but the research paints a different picture. While some animal studies suggest potential anabolic effects, human evidence remains thin. A 2023 systematic review found insufficient data to support turkesterone’s effectiveness for muscle building in humans, with most positive claims based on unreliable sources or low-quality studies.
This is not the regular Turkestronone. This is the Platinum version, which is $20 more.
The “anabolic salad” of Russian plants promised enhanced pumps and aggression during training. Tennyson took three capsules—the maximum dose—before hitting legs.
The Pump That Defied Expectations
Within his first workout, Tennyson noticed something unusual during hack squats.
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.
His quads gained nearly an inch of measurement from the pump. After just four sets of biceps, his arms jumped from 16.25 inches to 17 inches—impressive for someone who doesn’t train specifically for pumps.
The aggression and enhanced mind-muscle connection felt real, even if science can’t fully explain why.
Tennyson’s verdict: 3.5 stars. Effective for natural lifters seeking that extra edge, but probably unnecessary for enhanced athletes. He recommended saving $20 and sticking with the regular Turk Builder Max instead of Platinum.
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
Injectable L-Carnitine: When Supplements Get Serious
Tennyson’s first-ever injection marked a significant escalation in his experiment.
The one-inch needle felt more intimidating than any barbell he’d ever approached.
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?
L-carnitine plays a legitimate role in energy metabolism by shuttling fatty acids into mitochondria for ATP production. While oral L-carnitine has poor bioavailability, injection delivers it directly to the bloodstream. Some research supports its use for exercise performance, though effects are typically modest. Reports of elite athletes using 4-hour infusions suggest the performance community takes it seriously, even if mainstream evidence remains limited.
The injection site in his glute started hurting almost immediately. Nausea followed, along with paranoia about getting pulled over—as if the supplement police were monitoring his every move.
The Silent Killer Effect
Unlike pre-workout that hits like a freight train, L-carnitine worked subtly.
This is not something that you feel like a pre-workout. I think it’s one of those silent killers. You notice it when you’re in the set.
The burn during sets diminished significantly. Recovery between sets accelerated. Tennyson even threw in extra weighted pull-ups with his training partner Jeff.
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
Lateral raises—typically an exercise that ends in screaming deltoids—felt manageable for the first time in recent memory.
It feels like every single LC carnitine pill I swallowed as a kid came out of dormant state and just joined the party today.
The pump was “absolutely insane,” with skin feeling shrink-wrapped to muscle. Even after the workout ended, Tennyson felt like he had more to give.
But that needle was hard to overlook.
Final rating: 3 stars. Five out of five for effectiveness, but practicality suffered. Injecting two to three times per week simply isn’t realistic for most people.
Carb Mouth Rinsing: The Placebo That Works?
For this experiment, Tennyson recruited science-minded friend Jeff Nippard to add credibility and eliminate bias.
The concept sounds absurd: swish a carbohydrate drink for 5-10 seconds, spit it out, and somehow your brain thinks fuel is coming.
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
There’s actually quite a lot of research on it. At least 30 studies. Most of it focuses on endurance though. It doesn’t have a huge effect, but it does seem to improve performance.
The mechanism involves carbohydrate receptors in the mouth that signal the brain to ramp up motor output and reduce perceived effort. Diet drinks don’t work—it requires actual carbohydrates.
Research on carbohydrate mouth rinsing shows mixed results. While some studies report improved performance in endurance activities lasting 30-60 minutes, effects on resistance training are less clear. A 2021 meta-analysis found small improvements in some athletic tasks, but noted high variability and potential publication bias. The practice may offer modest benefits for specific scenarios, but it’s far from a game-changer.
The Spit Bucket Test
Armed with blue and green buckets, Tennyson and Nippard tested incline chest press first.
Both completed baseline sets without rinsing: 14 reps each. After a 10-minute rest, they performed carb rinse sets.
It actually felt like when you spit out that you felt the effect of when the pre-workout kicked in.
Tennyson jumped to 17 reps—three additional reps despite being more fatigued.
Nippard added one rep, going from 14 to 15. On seated dumbbell lateral raises, similar improvements appeared. Tennyson went from 21 to 23 reps; Nippard maintained 19 reps on his second (rinsed) set.
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 skeptical Nippard acknowledged the effect but cautioned about placebo influence.
I do wonder how much of it is a true effect because this is a huge thing with the supplement industry in particular where people will take something new and just because they took something they’re like wow I performed so much better.
Still, adding reps on a second set when fatigue should reduce performance suggests something real happening.
Rating: 4.5 stars. Cheap, accessible, and apparently effective—though placebo likely plays some role.
Methylene Blue: The Medicine That Became a Gym Hack
As the first man-made medicine ever used on humans, methylene blue has experienced an unexpected resurgence as an underground performance enhancer.
The compound supposedly helps mitochondria produce energy more efficiently.
Tennyson opted for pill form to avoid looking like “Papa Smurf’s offspring” with a blue tongue.
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
When FDA Approval Becomes Questionable
Ten minutes after swallowing the pills, everything hit at once.
I’m just chilling here, and my resting heart rate is 92. I feel like I took a very high stim pre-workout.
Breathing felt labored, like inhaling through thick air. His heart was “doing super sets” without him.
The gym experience turned chaotic. Tennyson paced between sets like a caged tiger, forgot to turn on his music entirely, miscounted reps on three separate sets, and thought he completed exercises he hadn’t finished.
I either feel like I’m either going to ascend or cease to exist. It’s just one of those two things.
Despite the mental fog, the pump was extraordinary. Chest striations showed through his shirt without even training biceps.
But performance suffered across the board—weights were down, focus scattered, and the overall experience bordered on unpleasant.
Verdict: 2.5 stars. The mood boost and energy were real, but they didn’t translate to better workouts. Not recommended.
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
Torque Gear: Mechanical Advantage Meets Muscle Building
Unlike supplements or peptides, Torque represents equipment-based enhancement.
Company owner Eric Janicki—described as “the largest human I’ve ever seen in person”—guided Tennyson through using three key pieces.
It’s almost an extension of the way I train. Trying to build muscle, the thought process is progressive overload, right? Which is heavier and heavier. But this is doing the same thing. It’s just a different style of progressive overload.
The Torque Wedge: Deeper Range Without Pain
The wedge attaches magnetically to hack squat platforms, allowing incredibly low foot placement without knee stress.
This feels like therapy to me because now I get to sit down. It’s opening up my quads and it takes out all that pressure off the knee capsule.
Tennyson typically handles five plates per side on hack squats. With the wedge and proper cues, two plates became genuinely challenging—but in a productive way that targeted muscles rather than joints.
ROM Block: Extra Stretch on Every Rep
The chest expander (ROM block with a cue) velcros around the torso during pressing movements.
It forces proper scapular positioning while adding significant range of motion to chest 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
It actually felt like when you spit out that you felt the effect of when the pre-workout kicked in.
The difference was visible on camera—Tennyson achieved far deeper stretches at the bottom of pressing movements while maintaining better form at the top.
Torque Handles: Pulling Without Grip Limitations
Traditional pulling exercises often fail due to grip fatigue before back muscles reach failure.
Torque handles use dual contact points—both hand and forearm—to eliminate grip as the limiting factor.
You want to feel like you’re pulling with your elbow and your hand is there like holding it, but it’s not. You’re literally not. You’re never going to fail because your grip.
The sensation completely changed rowing movements—Tennyson felt like he was pulling from his wrist rather than fighting to maintain grip.
Rating: 4.8 stars—the highest score in the entire experiment. Effective, safe, and practical for anyone focused on longevity in training. The only drawback is cost if purchasing the entire product line.
Blood Flow Restriction: Cutting Off Circulation for Gains
Intentionally restricting blood flow sounds counterintuitive for muscle building.
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
BFR training promises accelerated muscle growth at just 10-30% of one-rep max—practically nothing in terms of weight.
Minimal effort, maximum gains. That just sounds perfect. But the entire fitness industry is just full of people promoting that exact thing. And most of the time, it’s a bust.
Blood flow restriction training does have research support, particularly for maintaining muscle during injury rehabilitation. Studies show it can promote muscle growth with lighter loads by creating metabolic stress and recruiting high-threshold motor units. However, proper application requires specific pressure levels—too loose provides no benefit, too tight risks injury. The method works best as a supplementary tool rather than a primary training strategy.
The Unilateral Test
To eliminate variables, Tennyson trained one arm and one leg normally while wrapping the opposite limb with BFR bands.
Using only 15-pound dumbbells for curls, the banded side felt dramatically harder.
It was like I had different dumbbells in each hand.
The restricted arm failed while the normal arm could continue. Despite identical exercises and weights, each side felt like it underwent completely different training stimuli.
Leg extensions with BFR bands at just 90 pounds created an unbearable burn. Tennyson’s toes started tingling—a warning sign he might be crossing from biohacking into mild injury territory.
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 Measurement Results
Post-workout measurements revealed significant differences:
- Quads: The unrestricted leg maintained size; the BFR leg gained a full inch
- Arms: Normal training brought measurements to nearly 17 inches; BFR achieved 17.25 inches
Despite clear effectiveness, Tennyson remained unconvinced of practical value.
I feel like this kind of thing is for top level bodybuilding competitors trying to milk out that last half% of muscle, but for the regular gym goer, I just really don’t think you’re going to benefit from it that much.
Rating: 2 stars. Works as advertised but offers minimal benefit for average trainees who can simply lift heavier weights normally.
The Perfect Sleep: Nature’s Performance Enhancer
After a week of exotic supplements and equipment, Tennyson tested the most fundamental performance enhancer: quality sleep.
He optimized everything leading up to his morning workout.
Red light therapy and reading replaced screen time. Two tablets of Trazodone promised epic sleep.
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
My aura ring is going to think only true love’s kiss could wake me cuz I feel like I’m about to pass out right now.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
His Oura Ring recorded remarkable sleep metrics:
- Sleep score: 92 out of 100
- Total sleep: 9 hours and 4 minutes
- Efficiency: 89%
- Deep sleep: Nearly 2 hours
I don’t think I’ve ever slept that long in my entire life.
Tennyson followed up with optimized nutrition—eggs and oatmeal tracked precisely using the MacroFactor app. His intra-workout drink contained electrolytes, EAAs, creatine, and cluster dextrin for sustained energy.
Premium Human Performance Unlocked
The workout felt transcendent.
I was a well-oiled machine today. Everything was firing and I just felt really, really good.
Mental clarity returned. Natural energy replaced reliance on external stimulants. Weights felt suspiciously light—Tennyson double-checked his loaded plates thinking he’d made an error.
For rows, he jumped 15 pounds instead of his usual 5-pound progression, moving from 195 to 210 pounds with confidence.
I feel like 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 revelation hit hard: recovery isn’t sold in a tub.
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
People spend hundreds of dollars on supplements to avoid being unconscious for eight hours. Yet proper sleep, hydration, nutrition, and stress management deliver effects that no pill can replicate.
If you’re stuck on a rep and you’ve hit a plateau, maybe you just got to put the phone down before bed and then before you know it, you’re going to break through that plateau.
Rating: 5 stars across every category. The most effective, valuable, and practical method tested—and it costs nothing.
The Final Verdict: What Actually Works?
After testing everything from injections to medieval sleep schedules, clear winners and losers emerged.
Top performers:
- Perfect sleep (5 stars) – The undisputed champion
- Torque gear (4.8 stars) – Mechanical advantage meets longevity
- Carb mouth rinsing (4.5 stars) – Surprisingly effective and cheap
- Turkesterone (3.5 stars) – Noticeable for natural lifters despite limited evidence
- Injectable L-carnitine (3 stars) – Highly effective but impractical
Bottom tier:
- Methylene blue (2.5 stars) – Energy without performance
- Blood flow restriction (2 stars) – Works but unnecessary for most
The experiment revealed an uncomfortable truth: the fitness industry profits from selling shortcuts to avoid fundamental practices.
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
Yet nothing in a bottle, syringe, or package matched the comprehensive benefits of simply sleeping well, eating properly, and training consistently.
As Tennyson concluded, the best performance-enhancing supplement is ourselves—properly recovered, nourished, and prepared.
Everything else is just expensive decoration on that foundation.
Sources
- Systematic review on turkesterone – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37482573/
- L-carnitine and exercise performance research – https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-018-0218-y
- Carbohydrate mouth rinse meta-analysis (2021) – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33570755/
- Blood flow restriction training studies – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7390369/
