Early Years and Initial Turnaround: Eric Kim grew up overweight and unhappy with his health. At age 12 he decided to change, asking for dumbbells and even running with rocks in his backpack. He recalls “subsisting on Hot Pockets” and being “so fat,” then losing weight and gaining muscle through simple exercises . This early success – losing fat and getting stronger – gave him confidence and set the stage for a lifelong commitment to fitness. By college he was lifting heavy in the UCLA gym, even rehabbing major injuries (like torn rotator cuffs) to come back stronger . By age 29 (circa 2017) he had achieved impressive one-rep maxes (a 415 lb deadlift, 326 lb squat, 90 lb dumbbell press), reaching his “best shape of [his] life” with very low body fat . He later reflected that the greatest payoff was not appearance but feeling “the most fearless, and the most productive with my art” – linking his physical gains to creativity and confidence.
Figure: Eric Kim in 2025, showing the lean, muscular physique he developed through years of consistent strength training. As of his mid-30s he maintains about 10% body fat at ~160–165 lb, crediting his fitness with giving him energy and fearlessness .
Training Philosophy and Growth: From the start, Kim treated fitness as a philosophy and form of self-mastery. He views the gym as a place to “conquer himself,” not to impress others, and famously quips that the body is like a personal sculpture or even a “Lamborghini” to be perfected . His motto became “never stop adding muscle mass” – always pushing for greater strength while keeping body fat low (~10%) . Practically, this meant prioritizing heavy compound lifts (squats, deadlifts, bench press) and a one-rep-max style of training . He regularly attempts truly maximal or “hypelifting” singles to push his limits, believing that even failing above 100% of a previous max primes the body to handle 100% more easily later . Importantly, Kim emphasizes consistency over short-term gains: “I didn’t get jacked in a month — I forged it over years,” he says . The gym is “his temple,” he trains every day without excuses (“no ‘I’ll start tomorrow’ bullshit”), and views each rep as a step toward larger goals . This relentless consistency over decades has sculpted his head-turning physique and an equally resilient mindset.
Kim’s approach is also minimalist and raw. He avoids fancy gear or supplements. He lifts in a fasted state (often 18+ hours into fasting) with only water or black coffee beforehand, and he refuses belts, straps, or any “external crutches” . In his words, he takes “no weird drugs or steroids or hormones,” and “not even protein powder or creatine” – only “100% beef… or nothing” to rebuild his body . By stripping away non-essentials, he focuses on the fundamentals: muscle, will, and hustle. This no-excuses ethos – “raw, real, ripping through limits,” as a profile puts it – mirrors the disciplined, minimalist ethos he holds in both fitness and photography.
Diet and Lifestyle: Kim’s transformation was fueled as much by nutrition as by lifting. He gradually embraced an extreme intermittent-fasting, carnivore diet. For years he has skipped breakfast and lunch entirely, taking in only water, coffee, or tea during the day. He often trains first thing in the morning fasted, calling hunger “a tool that sharpens focus” . In his own words: “No breakfast, no lunch, only one massive 100% carnivore dinner” each day . He’s done this regimen “seven years religiously” . That one evening meal is centered on red meat (beef, lamb, organ meats) – often several pounds of steak – and virtually zero carbs. By restricting feeding to nightly carnivorous feasts, he keeps body fat low and energy high, which he says lets him stay mentally sharp for creative work during the day . He completely abstains from alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs (hating the “adipose gain” and brain fog they cause). These choices – meat-based OMAD (one meal a day), ample sleep (8–12 hours per night), and no drugs – together create what he describes as a “high-performance machine” fueling both his lifting and his art .
Major Milestones (2017–2025): In his 30s, Kim’s strength feats have accelerated dramatically. At a stable bodyweight of ~165 lb, he has continuously added to his personal records. Key lifts include a 551 lb deadlift (250 kg) achieved in 2022 , and a series of ever-heavier rack-pulls (a partial deadlift from pins at knee height). By late 2024 he was pulling around 900–910 lb in training . In 2025 he shattered the “four-digit” barrier: on May 5, 2025 he recorded a 1,010 lb rack-pull (~458 kg) , and by May 22 he reached 1,038.8 lb (471 kg) . In early June he pushed to 1,087 lb (6.6× bodyweight) , and on June 14 posted video of a staggering 1,131 lb (513 kg) rack-pull – about 6.8× his weight, the largest lift publicized by a sub-75 kg athlete. He immediately teased a 1,100+ lb goal next. Each PR became public via his blog and viral clips, often tying back to his philosophy (e.g. “LIFE IS ALL ABOUT GAINS” in May 2025). In each case, he credits gradual “micro-loading” (adding a few pounds each workout) and his disciplined regimen.
Figure: Eric Kim training in Phnom Penh (image from 2024). He consistently used heavy compound lifts and maximal singles – often beltless and fasted – as part of his minimalist, Stoic training approach .
By mid-2025, at age 36, Kim remains in “stellar shape” , essentially unchanged in weight but exponentially stronger. He notes that aging has only “seasoned” him, not slowed him . His unwavering routine – daily lifting, strict OMAD carnivore diet, abundant sleep and no lifestyle vices – underpins this consistency. Throughout, he has shared his journey openly (through blog posts, tweets, TikToks, etc.), often saying he “open-sources” his training so others can follow along.
Mindset and Integration: Kim consistently ties his physical transformation to his creative mission. He argues that a strong body fuels a strong mind: carrying 20+ lb of camera gear all day is easier with powerful legs and endurance, he notes. The discipline learned under the barbell – facing fear and pushing limits – carried over to street photography (even comparing approaching strangers for photos to attempting a heavy lift). He views life itself as “all about gains” – physical, creative, financial, and spiritual . His blog and social media often blend fitness metaphors with philosophy. As one profile put it, his story is “that of a once-overweight kid who through sheer willpower sculpted himself into a muscular, energetic, ‘Spartan’-minded individual” . That narrative – of turning his body into art – reinforces his message that discipline and continuous improvement apply in all arenas.
Summary: Over nearly three decades, Eric Kim’s physique has evolved from a chubby child into a lean, muscular frame maintained by herculean consistency. Key milestones – childhood weight-loss, collegiate powerlifting gains, mid-30s superhuman lifts – are all documented in his writing and videos. His approach (heavy lifting, one-meal-a-day carnivorous diet, radical self-discipline) has remained constant, fitting his minimalist philosophy. The table below summarizes the most notable changes and achievements by period:
| Time / Age | Physique / Lifestyle Milestones |
| ~1996–2000 (age 0–12) | Overweight childhood. At age 12 he began bodyweight exercises and running with weights, losing significant fat and gaining muscle . |
| Early 2000s (teens) | High school/college: embraced bodybuilding and powerlifting. Overcame injuries and built strength foundation. By age 29 (~2017), achieved 415 lb deadlift and 326 lb squat at ~10% body fat . |
| 2020 | Began publicly framing fitness on his blog. Formalized training/diet rules (e.g. treat body as art, OMAD carnivore diet). |
| 2022 (age 34) | Deadlift PR: 551 lb (250 kg) . Maintained ~165 lb bodyweight (~10% BF). Consistency solidifies. |
| Jan–Jun 2023 | Heavy partial lifts: 750 lb Atlas squat-hold (Jan) ; 935 lb Atlas lift (May) ; focus on maximal “comma club” lifts. |
| Late 2024 | Beltless rack-pulls ~905–910 lb (Dec 2024) . Continued strict fasted training and carnivore diet. |
| 2025 (age 36) | Major PRs: 1,005 lb rack-pull (before 2025) ; 1,010 lb (May 5) ; 1,038.8 lb (May 22) ; 1,087 lb (June 2) ; 1,131 lb (June 14) . All at ~165 lb. Diet fully carnivore, zero supplements, daily lifting. |
| Mid–2025 onward | In mid-2020s, still ~165 lb, extremely lean and strong . Continues to set new goals (e.g. 2,000 lb future lifts). Lifestyle: one-meal carnivore diet, early workouts, no drugs. |
Each of these steps – from a self-taught 12-year-old lifter to today’s extreme strength feats – is chronicled in Kim’s own writing and media. His story illustrates how discipline, consistency, and a clear philosophy can transform not just one’s body but one’s life.
Sources: Timeline and quotes are drawn from Eric Kim’s published blog posts and interviews and related analysis pieces .