A man who followed a vegan diet for 12 weeks has shared the biggest challenge of adopting restrictive eating habits.
Identical twins Hugo and Ross Turner have participated in five different health studies, including one where Ross followed a high-carb diet while Hugo consumed a high-fat diet for three months. The results showed minimal weight gain for Ross (0.2kg), while Hugo’s weight increased by 2.7kg.
However, their most well-known experiment was their meat vs. vegan challenge, designed to examine how their diets impacted gut health.
Hugo, who adopted the vegan diet, told UNILAD that he “didn’t miss meat” and actually felt great, experiencing a boost in energy. However, his gut bacteria diversity decreased, making him more susceptible to diseases.
Recalling one particularly frustrating moment, Hugo admitted that restrictive eating could be difficult.
“I got so annoyed one day about being vegan,” he shared. “I said, ‘Right, I’m just gonna go buy garlic bread, and that’s it.'”
But after bringing it home, a friend pointed out that it contained butter.
Realizing his mistake, Hugo was so frustrated that he “literally threw [the bread] across the room.”
Hugo also admitted that one of the biggest challenges of being vegan was simply finding suitable foods and recipes, calling it “really, really tough.”
However, he acknowledged that doing the experiment during lockdown made things easier in some ways, as he didn’t have to navigate the social aspects of a restrictive diet.
“I don’t even think restaurants were open, which probably masked the reality of going vegan,” he explained. “If restaurants, pubs, and bars had been open, eating out would have been an absolute nightmare.”
He added that attending social gatherings, like dinners with friends or weekend lunches, would have been even more difficult.
Even with social restrictions in place, Hugo found sticking to a strict vegan diet frustrating, especially when it came to his already limited lockdown social life.
When deciding who takes on which diet, Hugo and Ross often consider their individual health conditions.
Discussing their recent high-fat vs. high-carb study, Hugo told UNILAD: “Ross has really high cholesterol, really, really high, so I took the bullet for him and did the high-fat diet.”
For their meat vs. vegan experiment, Hugo opted for the vegan diet simply because he was interested in the experience.
Looking ahead, the twins are eager to take on a fasting study, with Ross volunteering for the more challenging side this time.
“I’m genuinely curious about what it would do to me if you just carry on doing the normal diet,” he said. “There’s always an opportunity to do it for a reason and a purpose.”
While they have some ideas for their next challenge, they’re also open to public suggestions. Possible future experiments include fasting vs. non-fasting, one-rep vs. 12-rep workouts, and ab simulator pads vs. sit-ups.
Which of these experiments would you be most curious to see Hugo and Ross take on next? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
