I Tried EVERY Way To Build Muscle

Key wellness / self-care & productivity strategies (muscle-building focus)

Use a structured “ranking” framework for interventions

Rate each muscle-building approach on:

• Effectiveness (does it work?)
• Value (is it worth the money?)
• Practicality (is it realistic to use?)

Prioritize recovery-supporting basics

Perfect sleep routine

• Reduce screen time and use relaxation before bed (e.g., reading instead of screen time)
• Use red light to help wind down
• Take a sleep aid mentioned in the video (trazodone) to improve sleep duration/quality

Fuel training with nutrition

• Eat eggs + oatmeal (track macros)
• Use an app to track calories (MacroFactor, via barcode/photo)

Hydration + intra-workout nutrition

• Drink an electrolyte hydration mix
• Add EAAs
• Add creatine (5 g)
• Add carb energy for performance/pump (cluster dextrin; ~30g carbs)
• Take advantage of “natural performance alignment” (sleep + food + hydration + stress management)

Training tactics emphasized during experimentation

Progressive overload via mechanics

• Prefer increasing difficulty with deeper ROM and better mechanics rather than always lifting heavier
• The approach is highlighted via “Torque” equipment

Push hard sets, but measure outcomes

• Train with sets to near/failure depending on the test
• Use objective measures such as:
  • reps completed
  • measured circumference/pumps

Mindset / placebo awareness

• A recurring caution: some effects may be partially placebo-driven, especially when you’re expecting results from supplements.
• The video discusses study designs that try to control expectation (e.g., similar taste solutions with/without carbs).

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Supplement / technique findings discussed (rankings by the video’s own tone)

1) “Turk Builder” (oral supplement)

• Best takeaway: controversy + “works” may depend on source/legitimacy
• Result in video: felt strong pumps and aggression; gained inches
• Practical guidance mentioned: differentiate “real vs fake” and don’t assume cheaper/foreign sources are the same
• Decision: Platinum vs regular couldn’t be distinguished; save $20 (regular recommended)

2) Injectable L-carnitine

• Key wellness idea: potential “silent” performance/recovery effects (not a typical stimulant feel)
• Result in video: big pump; improved endurance/recovery; fewer burning issues
• Practical drawback: needle pain; lower practicality (inject 2–3x/week suggested)

3) Carb mouth rinsing (spit the carbs out)

• Strategy: swish carbohydrates in the mouth 5–10 seconds, then spit—aiming to reduce perceived effort and improve performance
• Training method used: compare sets
  • without rinse vs with rinse
  • after ~10 minutes
  • sets to failure with strict rep counting rules
• Important caution: effect could be placebo, though carb-specific receptors are mentioned as a mechanism
• Result in video: improved reps in multiple trials; still advised skepticism

4) Methylene blue

• Mechanism claim: mitochondria energy efficiency / mood + focus
• Result in video: very strong stimulant-like energy, but poor training performance and focus issues (also involved rep miscounting)
• Decision: not recommended despite possible alertness benefits

5) “Torque” equipment (training tool, not a supplement/peptide)

• Core productivity/wellness angle: safer progressive overload using mechanics + deeper range of motion with manageable loads
• Tools highlighted:
  • Torque wedge (foot placement to reduce knee pressure; feels therapeutic)
  • ROM/shoulder-support block (extra chest range; helps shoulders down/back)
  • Torque handles (dual-contact design cues pulling mechanics, not grip-only failure)
• Result in video: top-ranked item for effectiveness
• Downside: cost and the need to bring multiple pieces

6) Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training

• Strategy: occlude blood flow to force muscle to work harder at low loads (20–30% 1RM mentioned)
• Doctor’s explanation included:
  • metabolites increase and some motor units “turn down,” so remaining units work harder
  • may help people who can’t lift heavy loads (or are injured) reach earlier failure
• Result in video: measurable gains and strong burns/pumps, but also tingles plus safety/practicality concerns
• Decision: low effectiveness/practicality for most normal gym-goers (per the video’s view)

7) “The perfect sleep” as the main meta-supplement

• Strategy checklist (implied):
  • red light + reading before bed
  • optimize total sleep time and sleep quality
  • fuel with protein + carbs tracked via an app
  • hydrate and use intra-workout basics (electrolytes, EAAs, creatine, carbs)
• Result in video: best overall performance and greatest “everything aligned” feeling
• Conclusion: sleep is framed as the most effective and cheapest performance enhancer

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Presenters / sources

• Presenter: Will (main narrator/testing himself)
• Guest/testing participant: Jeff Nippert
• Source/expert mentioned: Dr. Mike Israel
• Equipment owner/source: Eric Janicki (owner of Torque)
• Characters/brand mentions:
  • “MacroFactor app”
  • “Aura ring”
  • “South African Rhino Conservation” (question at the end)