Modified June 23, 2023 | 20:41
Hugo and Ross Turner, identical twins and professional adventurers known as the Turner Twins, have a knack for challenging themselves.
As well as rowing the Atlantic, climbing Mount Elbrus and crossing the Greenland ice cap, they’ve also developed an intriguing habit: they conduct selfexperiments to study how their identical genes respond to different diets and exercise programs.
Your recent mission? Determine whether long or short exercises produce better fitness results. Although Ross spent twice as much time training as Hugo over a 12week period, they finished the race with nearly identical physical performance and looks. Let’s dive into the details of his experiment and what we can learn from it.
The twin exercise experiment
The Londonbased Turner twins followed a consistent diet and began a 20minute exercise program consisting of four activities.
After Hugo was done, Ross performed the same exercise routine again. They alternated between two or three consecutive days of training and one rest day. Importantly, they maintained the same weights and reps, and aimed for endurance—a crucial factor in their adventurous expeditions.
They measured their progress by comparing weight, strength, and body composition before and after the experiment. They monitored the maximum they could lift on a single deadlift and bench press (one rep maximum), the number of pushups and pullups they could perform, and their cardiovascular fitness by measuring their “submaximal VO2.” Through body scans, they tracked changes in their weight and body composition.
Less is more? A look at the results
The twins found that the duration of their workouts seemed to have little impact on their performance a discovery that could potentially prompt gymgoers to make a double attempt.
At the end of the experiment, both twins improved on pullups and deadlifts. However, despite training less, Hugo managed to do 13 more pushups compared to the modest improvement of Ross, who only managed two more.
Surprisingly, Ross, who trained the longest, showed better cardiovascular fitness, which was reflected in his lower heart rate. Ross also saw a slight weight gain, but her muscle growth was the same.
The unexpected discoveries
Ross was understandably stunned and frustrated, having made double the effort with less than double the result. He urged everyone to experiment with their workout routines. Ross indicated that her ideal workout might be 20 to 25 minutes in duration but with heavier weights.
Their findings are consistent with the broader scientific discourse, as confirmed by Michael Graham, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Teesside University.
However, he also cautioned that the Turner twins’ experiment was too small and poorly controlled for the results to be of universal application. He emphasized the importance of customizing individual training programs and the potential benefits of shorter training sessions.
In summary, the Turner twins’ experiment sheds light on an interesting aspect of training—that more isn’t always better. Their discoveries invite us to challenge norms, push boundaries and experiment, just like them. It’s an exciting adventure, whether it’s in the gym or outside. Who knows, the road to your ideal fitness routine might be shorter (and less sweaty) than you think!
With information from insiders
EditorinChief of Mistérios do Mundo since 2011. I love to travel, enjoy good music and read. It won the Digital Influencer Award in the Oddities category.