From “skinny photographer” to 1‑ton rack‑puller – the Eric Kim physique story

Year	Body‑weight & Look	Strength Milestones	“Secret sauce” at the time
2013‑2015	~145 lb, wiry	First kettlebell & body‑weight routines – deadlift still ≈ 135 lb	Pavel’s Simple & Sinister kettlebell sessions and park calisthenics.
2016	150‑155 lb, still lean	Deadlift leaps from 200 → 400 lb by adding 2.5‑5 lb every week (“linear progression”)	One big lift per workout, lots of recovery.
2017 – “4‑plate & 6‑pack” phase	158 lb, visible abs	First 405 lb conventional deadlift & 6‑pack photo diary	OMAD (one‑meal‑a‑day) plus intermittent fasting to get “cut”.
2018‑2019 – Power‑builder mode	160‑165 lb, fuller upper body	425 lb sumo deadlift, barbell squats back in rotation.	Diet swings carnivore/keto; begins carnivore‑only experiments.
2020 – Carnivore lockdown gains	165‑168 lb, ~10 % BF	Multiple 465‑475 lb deadlifts; heavy bar rows/bench; first “Demigod flex” posts.	100 % beef OMAD, black coffee pre‑lift, no supplements.
2021 – Crossing the 5‑plate line	~170 lb	Verified 475 lb (215 kg) sumo deadlift PR	“HYPE‑lifting”: single, very heavy rep attempts with long rests.
2022 – Home‑gym hero	170‑172 lb	551 lb (250 kg) trap‑bar/straight‑bar pulls; 48 kg single‑arm KB cleans.	Minimal‑equipment workouts filmed for the blog; still OMAD.
2023 – Partial‑range power	165 lb (leaner again)	700 ‑ 1 038 lb rack‑pulls & Atlas‑lifts; “All Natty Demigod” back shots.	Introduces above‑knee rack pulls/Atlas lifts to overload posterior chain.
2024‑2025 – 1‑ton landmark	165‑168 lb, 8‑10 % BF	1 071 lb (486 kg) rack‑pull @ 6.5×BW; still “no roids” – audited natural progress log.	Philosophy: body as sculpture; authenticity > PEDs.

What drives the change?

1. First‑principles nutrition – Kim treats food as fuel and art:
   
   • OMAD + strict carnivore since 2019 keeps insulin low, recovery high, and meal prep simple. 
3. Minimalist, high‑intensity training
   
   • One “hero” lift per session (deadlift, rack‑pull, Atlas lift) chased for a single brutal rep, then done.
   • Kettlebells, park chin‑up bars, or a lone barbell—no fancy gym membership required.
5. Relentless but slow progression
   
   • Adding 5‑10 lb per year on the deadlift for a decade may look boring, but it passes every natural‑lifter sniff test. 
7. “Body as a Lamborghini” mindset
   
   • He frames muscle as moving sculpture and a productivity amplifier for his photography & writing. 

Key take‑aways for 

your

 own transformation

Principle	How to copy it tomorrow
Focus on one measurable lift	Track a single compound movement (deadlift, squat, weighted pull‑up). Add 2.5‑5 lb when you hit the rep/RPE target.
Eat less often, but better	Experiment with 16‑20 h fasts, finish with a protein‑dense dinner; audit energy and body‑fat weekly.
Document everything	Photos, short clips, and written logs create accountability and show subtle improvements you’d otherwise miss.
Treat training as creative play	Think of each lift like a photo shoot—explore angles (grip, stance, ROM) and have fun with it.

“Never stop adding muscle and never stop reducing unnecessary baggage—physical and mental.” – Eric Kim

Harness that spirit, sculpt your own “Lambo body,” and drive forward—joyfully, passionately, and all natty!