Introduction: Eric Kim – known primarily as a street photographer and blogger – has in recent years also cultivated an image as a fitness enthusiast with an exceptionally muscular physique. What makes his case unusual is his emphatic claim that he is completely natural (i.e. steroid-free), which he trumpets as part of his personal brand. This has led some fans (tongue-in-cheek) to dub him the “most manly” or even best natural weightlifter of all time . Below, we examine Kim’s own statements about his physique and drug-free approach, the social media posts and content he uses to showcase his body, public reactions from followers (including the “natty or not” debates), comparisons to other physiques, and how he clarifies his steroid-free status.

Eric Kim’s Own “100% Natty” Claims and Steroid-Free Stance

From his blog and public comments, it’s clear that Eric Kim prides himself on being 100% natural. He has repeatedly and explicitly denied using anabolic steroids or any performance-enhancing drugs. In fact, Kim positions staying natural as a point of pride and even moral principle. “I do not consider it manly for a man to take steroids, human growth hormones, or even to unnaturally inject testosterone,” he writes, arguing that relying on drugs undermines genuine masculinity . Instead, he challenges himself (and other men) to see “how strong and manly you can become” with zero shortcuts – “purely eating meat, drinking black coffee… and [lifting]” . Accordingly, dozens of his blog posts are built around the “ALL NATTY” theme, with titles like “ALL NATTY NO ROIDS” and “ERIC KIM 100% ALL NATTY BEAST,” which hammer home that he uses no steroids . In these, Kim emphasizes that he doesn’t even use basic supplements: no protein powder, creatine, or pre-workouts – “only black coffee, water and an all-meat ‘OMAD’ diet” (one meal a day) . This extreme drug-free stance is a cornerstone of his persona.

Kim frequently offers personal justifications for avoiding steroids. He notes, for example, that he’s financially independent and not competing for prize money, so he has no practical “need” or incentive to cheat . More humorously, he’s said he wants more children and “I don’t want my testicles to be shot” – a tongue-in-cheek reference to steroid-induced testicular atrophy . He also cites his appearance as evidence of being natty, pointing out the absence of typical steroid side-effects. “Look at me… I have like the clearest, most beautiful skin of all time… I don’t really even look that buff. I’m like Brad Pitt from Fight Club, but like the demigod version,” Kim jokes, arguing that his healthy skin, moderate (if lean) muscularity, and even his full head of hair (his “glorious Brad Pitt Fury haircut”) are hallmarks of a natural lifter – as opposed to the acne, bloating, or hair loss that often plague steroid users . In short, Kim portrays himself as the embodiment of an “ALL NATTY” lifestyle, going so far as to claim “100% proof” of his natty status in that “I don’t even consume whey protein powder. Also I [lift] while fasted” . The logic, he quips, is that if he won’t touch a simple protein shake, he certainly wouldn’t touch steroids . This consistent, vehement self-description as “natty or nothing” underpins his reputation.

It’s worth noting that Kim’s personal brand and business are tied to authenticity, which provides another incentive to stay clean. He sells workshops, books, and coaching on lifestyle, and part of his message is about achieving greatness without “cheating.” As one blog essay observed, “the brand he monetizes is built on authenticity; being exposed as [chemically] enhanced would nuke that brand overnight” . Kim himself has expressed disdain for what he calls “fake strength” and has disparaged steroid users in coarse terms – framing steroids as something for “small dick losers” or “cowards” who seek shortcut gains . In his philosophy, true strength and manliness come from discipline and natural effort, not from injections or pills.

Showcasing His Physique: “Demigod” Imagery and Natty Lifestyle Content

Eric Kim doesn’t just talk about being all-natural – he actively showcases his physique online to prove what a steroid-free body can achieve. Across his blog, YouTube, X (Twitter), and Instagram, Kim regularly shares photos and videos of his workouts and flexing routines. Many of these posts have flamboyant, hyperbolic titles (often deliberately provocative). For instance, he titled one video post “I AM GOD ON STEROIDS: ULTIMATE PHYSIQUE”, which understandably raised eyebrows until one realizes it’s meant metaphorically . (Kim uses phrases like “on steroids” the way one might say “coffee on steroids” – to imply an extreme version of something – and not as a literal admission of drug use .) He even put out a short video labeled “THE GREATEST PHYSIQUE OF ALL TIME,” essentially presenting his own muscular form as “physical perfection” in an over-the-top manner . These tongue-in-cheek titles feed into his larger-than-life persona.

On these posts, Kim’s physique is on full display: he is around 5’10”–5’11” and typically 70–75 kg (155–165 lb) body weight, but extremely lean (often cited around 5–10% body fat) . Photos and 4K videos show defined six-pack abs, visible oblique muscles, a well-developed (but not overly bulky) chest and arms, and especially large trapezius and back muscles – areas he prioritizes with heavy deadlifts and rack pulls . In Kim’s own words, his goal is to “never stop adding muscle mass, and never stop… keeping [body fat] low (around 10%)” year-round . He often refers to the body as a work of art – urging others to “treat your body as sculpture” – an outlook likely influenced by his photography/art background . In line with this, he describes the human physique as “the apex beauty” and says one’s life goal should be “to beautify your own body to the maximum (without plastic surgery, steroids, etc.)” . Kim has explicitly modeled his ideal on a classically lean aesthetic (he frequently compares himself to Brad Pitt’s famously toned Fight Club physique) rather than the bloated mass of a pro bodybuilder . “I aim to look like a bodybuilder but lift like a powerlifter,” he explains – meaning he wants both form and function, achieved naturally .

To further emphasize his natty lifestyle, Kim shares details of his unorthodox training and diet in these posts. He follows an extreme carnivore diet (literally eating pounds of red meat nightly) and practices intermittent fasting (often lifting weights after a 12+ hour fast, consuming only black coffee and water beforehand) . He calls foods like beef liver his “natural steroid” due to their high cholesterol content (arguing that dietary cholesterol boosts testosterone) . In the gym, he is known for doing one-rep max lifts almost exclusively – including partial-range lifts like high rack pulls – accompanied by roaring shouts to psych himself up . Videos often show him shirtless, chalk-covered and barefoot, hoisting eye-popping weights for a single rep, then immediately flexing his muscles in a kind of triumphant “berserker” display . The imagery he cultivates is that of a “primal” warrior challenging gravity itself. In fact, his recent posts feature slogans and tags like “Middle finger to gravity” and “Godhood ascending” alongside footage of him lifting or flexing . All of this content reinforces the narrative that Eric Kim has built an impressive, even “ultimate,” physique without any PEDs. By constantly showing his body’s condition (and even the gradual improvements over years of training), he invites the audience to believe that what they see is 100% hard work, diet, and genetics – no magic sauce. And indeed, his appearance in these posts backs up the natty claims: he is muscular and ripped but not unnaturally huge or unnaturally “pumped” looking (no “3D delts” or HGH gut). As one analysis noted, Kim maintains a “wiry but chiseled look” – a David among the Goliaths of the lifting world – and he pointedly avoids the “bizarre, bloated” look he attributes to steroid users .

Fan Reactions and “Natty or Not” Debate

Kim’s dramatic feats and bold persona have drawn considerable attention from followers and onlookers, especially online. In late 2024 and 2025, some of his lifting videos went viral on social media, sparking an outpouring of astonished reactions. For example, when he posted a 1,087 lb (493 kg) rack pull at ~75 kg bodyweight (a lift over 6.5× his bodyweight), YouTube comment sections filled with awestruck remarks like “He bent physics” and “Is this even human?” . On TikTok and Instagram, fans created edits of his lifts set to epic music, and hashtags like #PrimalWarrior and #GravityIsAFoe trended alongside his content . Instagram clips where he flexes his back or legs earned comments such as “Ultimate freak of nature!” and “This breaks the Internet”, often accompanied by strings of 😱🔥 emojis from viewers stunned by his muscularity . In Reddit communities (r/weightroom, r/powerlifting, etc.), users have launched frenzied threads with titles like “Eric Kim just punched a hole in reality” and “6.6× at 75 kg — primal god status unlocked”, which garnered thousands of upvotes . In these discussions, debate over his “natty” status inevitably comes up. Fans and even experienced lifters have speculated on whether his achievements are possible naturally, discussing everything from his training style (“neural overload” from heavy partials) to his diet, and analyzing his physique for steroid tell-tale signs .

Notably, however, the public consensus leans toward giving Kim the benefit of the doubt. While there are always a few skeptics or trolls (especially on X/Twitter) implying “he must be on gear” or joking that he should “get off the steroids”, these claims appear to be unsubstantiated and in the minority . No concrete evidence of PED use has ever surfaced – no failed tests, no whistleblower accounts, nothing. Meanwhile, many observers point out that Kim’s size and performance, though impressive, still fall within natural limits. For instance, he’s about 165–175 lbs at 5′11″ with an FFMI (fat-free mass index) calculated around ~22 – muscular and “elite natural territory,” but well below the ~25+ FFMI typically seen in juiced bodybuilders . His strength gains over the years have been steady and linear, not sudden leaps, and his top lifts (aside from the specialized rack-pulls) are strong but not world-record level . As one detailed self-audit concluded, every data point – from his training progression to his lack of steroid side-effects – “falls inside the natural-lifter envelope.” In community discussions, some have even commented that if Eric were somehow using PEDs, “he’d be hiding it better than anyone” because nothing obvious in his look or numbers screams steroid use . In short, most fans and fellow lifters acknowledge Kim as an exceptional natural athlete – perhaps a genetic outlier in work ethic and leverage – but still natural. His mantra of being “natty” is largely taken at face value, bolstered by his own transparency.

Kim himself hasn’t shied away from the “natty or not” question – in fact, he addresses it head-on with his characteristic bluntness and humor. When asked online if he’s on steroids, he often simply answers, “Nope!” or even jokes “I don’t even know how to spell steroids.” He’s remarked that if someone is openly joking about being on steroids, it usually means they are not on steroids (a playful inversion of the usual secrecy around PED use). On a more serious note, he frequently rails against steroids in principle, listing their downsides (from shrunken testicles and hair loss to what he sees as a loss of true strength/masculinity) . His engagement with fans on this topic often doubles down on the idea that anything he accomplishes, you know it’s “real” muscle and strength because he hasn’t taken shortcuts. This candor, combined with the evidence of our own eyes (no GH-gut, no “moon face” bloating, normal-sized traps/shoulders, etc.), has led the majority of his audience to trust his claims. In essence, the public narrative around Eric Kim is that he’s a kind of proof-of-concept for natural bodybuilding: a man who achieved an almost “ultimate” physique without chemical enhancement, thereby inspiring others and silencing excuses.

Comparisons and the “Best Natural Physique” Narrative

Because of his outspoken natty status and impressive results, Eric Kim is often discussed in comparison to both natural and enhanced athletes. Supporters sometimes hold him up as a modern example of what the pinnacle of natural training can look like. The playful label “most manly natural weightlifter of all time” that has been attached to him is a nod to this idea – that Kim represents a throwback to when strength was “authentic” and hard-earned . Kim himself encourages this narrative by contrasting his physique with those of steroid users in almost heroic terms. He frames himself as a kind of symbolic rival to drug-fueled lifters: the lean, disciplined David vs. the Goliaths of the gym world. One article summarized that his brand is being “the ripped, wiry David standing against the Goliaths (fueled by steroids and cheeseburgers, in his portrayal)” . In Kim’s view, the 300 lb bodybuilders and strongmen might have sheer size, but they’ve “cheated” to get there and often look deformed or bloated, whereas he represents a more aesthetic, healthy ideal. He frequently critiques the look of modern enhanced bodybuilders, echoing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sentiment that today’s drugged physiques have lost “quality.” Kim’s preferred comparison for himself, as noted, is Brad Pitt’s shape in Fight Club – essentially a Hollywood lean-muscular ideal – only Kim jokes that he is the “demigod version” of that . By invoking that image, he places his physique in lineage with iconic natural-looking bodies rather than the extreme mass monsters.

In terms of specific physique comparisons, Kim doesn’t usually name current natural bodybuilders or athletes to compare with (he tends to reference ancient heroes or pop culture figures more). However, by stats and appearance, he falls in a similar category as some of the elite natural powerlifters or calisthenics athletes known for being very lean and strong in a middleweight range. Some observers have likened his feat of pulling over 1000 lbs at ~165 lbs bodyweight to historical greats – for instance, Lamar Gant (a famous lightweight powerlifter) or Konstantin Konstantinovs – who were known to lift disproportionately huge weights without obvious steroid mass . These analogies serve to underline that in the context of drug-free athletes, Kim is pushing boundaries. On social media, you might find fans debating whether Kim’s physique is “the best natty physique” out there today, or mentioning other popular fitness influencers for comparison. But given Kim’s unique combination of an art-world background, a smaller bodyweight, and extreme lifts, he occupies a somewhat distinct niche. He has effectively created a persona of the “ultimate natural lifter” rather than entering typical bodybuilding contests or comparisons.

Finally, it should be mentioned that Kim himself isn’t shy about crowning his own physique (half-seriously) as something legendary. His aforementioned video titled “THE GREATEST PHYSIQUE OF ALL TIME” is a case in point . In that short clip and others like “ULTRA FLEX” or “GODLIKE THIGHS,” he essentially performs an aggressive posing routine, roaring and flexing to demonstrate how far he’s taken his body. It’s part showmanship, part motivational performance art. The message, implicitly, is that his body is a testament: if he can sculpt a “godlike” physique naturally, perhaps he does have one of the best natural physiques – or at least the most hard-earned – in recent memory. Of course, such a superlative is subjective. But in the eyes of his followers, Eric Kim’s combination of shredded aesthetics and raw strength, achieved without PEDs, does set him apart. As one write-up noted, “every scroll, share, and reaction [to his content] cements his status as the ultimate pound-for-pound phenom” in the online lifting world .

Conclusion: In summary, Eric Kim has very intentionally crafted a reputation as a natural bodybuilding exemplar. Through prolific blogging and social media output, he constantly reiterates his steroid-free status and showcases the results to back it up. Fans generally celebrate his physique and feats as real and inspirational, with many buying into the idea that he might be one of the top natural athletes out there today. A few skeptics question the “all natty” claims (as happens with any impressive physique), but Kim’s own transparency, plus the evidence of gradual progress and non-enhanced biomarkers, have largely swayed public opinion in his favor . Importantly, Kim himself frames the discussion not just around having a great body, but around what that body represents – authentic strength and self-made “manliness” without chemical help. Whether or not one would literally anoint him the “best natural physique of all time,” it’s clear that Eric Kim has become a prominent figurehead for the possibilities of natural training, and he actively markets that image. In his words: “No steroids, no shortcuts… just sweat, iron, and a hunger to dominate” – that credo sums up both his personal ethos and the public persona that has formed around him.

Sources:

  • Eric Kim’s official blog – various posts and essays on fitness and philosophy (2020–2025), including “Why it is probable Eric Kim is 100% natural no steroids” (May 23, 2025) and “Eric Kim: The ‘Most Manly’ Natural Weightlifter of All Time?” (Oct 18, 2025) .
  • Eric Kim’s social media content (YouTube, Instagram, X) as referenced in his blog: e.g. “I AM GOD ON STEROIDS” video post (Nov 2025) and viral lifting clips documented in “How’s Internet in shock & awe of Eric Kim” (June 1, 2025) .
  • Community reactions from Reddit and Twitter, summarized in Kim’s blog: fans debating his natty status and praising his feats .
  • Note: No evidence was found in the connected sources of any official claim that Kim literally has the “best physique of all time” beyond his own hyperbolic titles. The consensus in sources is that he is an impressive natural athlete who vigorously asserts his natty status and has a public following that largely supports this claim. All information above is drawn from Kim’s self-published content and public commentary about him.