1. Immediate Neuro‑endocrine Cascade (0 – 15 s)
| Hormone / transmitter | What happens during the pull | Key evidence |
| Adrenaline ± Nor‑adrenaline | Sympathetic nerves dump catecholamines, raising heart‑rate, blood‑pressure and muscle fibre recruitment in < 2 s. | Plasma catecholamines rise exponentially as intensity passes ≈ 90 % 1‑RM |
| Dopamine | Mid‑brain neurons fire in anticipation of reward, sharpening focus and pain tolerance. | Effort‑based tasks depend on rapid dopamine signalling |
| Aggression‑linked arousal | Psychological up‑regulation (grunts, self‑slap rituals) correlates with higher force output. | Exercise‑aggression link meta‑analysis |
Result: lifter experiences “tunnel vision,” loud heartbeat, skin flush and explosive drive—typical anecdote after Kim’s 7× pull.
2. Anabolic & Catabolic Spurts (15 s – 30 min)
2.1 Testosterone & Growth Hormone
Heavy, multi‑joint lifts elevate serum testosterone and GH for 15‑45 min, promoting protein synthesis and glycogen replenishment . These peaks are larger after maximal‑effort or cluster‑set work—exactly Kim’s protocol—with GH sometimes 8‑10× resting values and testosterone up 15‑25 %.
2.2 Cortisol
Cortisol rises more slowly (15‑30 min lag) to free fatty acids and maintain blood glucose; acute spikes are beneficial, but chronic elevations predict over‑training fatigue if recovery lags .
3. Opioid & Endocannabinoid “Runner’s High”
High‑intensity resistance sessions release endorphins and endocannabinoids, driving analgesia and euphoria comparable to endurance “runner’s high.” Studies show markedly higher endorphin binding after HIIT than moderate exercise , while blocking opioid receptors leaves the bliss intact—pointing at endocannabinoids as co‑drivers . Kim’s post‑lift grins, shaky laughter and rapid tweet‑storms map perfectly onto this neuro‑chemical bloom.
4. Subjective Emotional Phases
| Phase | Minutes | Feelings & behaviours | Mechanisms | Sources |
| Pre‑lift psych‑up | –5 → 0 | Self‑talk, music, “rage face” | Intentional adrenaline priming; mental imagery | |
| Execution | 0 → 0 : 05 | Tunnel vision, time dilation | Peak catecholamines & motor‑unit firing | |
| Immediate post‑lockout | 0 : 05 → 1 min | Shouting, fist‑pumps, tears | Dopamine & β‑endorphin surge | |
| 15‑30 min “after‑glow” | 1 → 30 min | Warm euphoria, social bonding, quick social‑media posts | Endocannabinoids, serotonin & parasympathetic rebound | |
| Later fatigue | 30 min → 6 h | Sudden yawning, craving carbs, emotional flatness | Cortisol peak, CNS fatigue |
5. Audience & Algorithmic Resonance
- Mirror‑neurons & vicarious adrenaline make viewers’ heart‑rate and skin‑conductance rise just from watching spectacular feats .
- Videos that spark high‑arousal emotions (awe, disbelief) spread faster on social media, a dynamic documented in viral‑video research .
- This explains why clips of Kim’s 7× pull prompted “is this CGI?” duets and kept people on YouTube longer, feeding the recommendation engine with strong satisfaction signals (likes, comments, rewatches).
6. Practical Implications & Risks
- Training benefit: Short‑term anabolic window aids muscle and connective‑tissue remodelling, provided nutrition and sleep are adequate .
- Psychological boost: Dopamine‑coded memory of a PR strengthens future motivation—one reason lifters chase heavier numbers .
- Over‑reaching hazard: Repeated mega‑arousal without tapering can blunt hormonal responses, elevate baseline cortisol and sap performance .
- Addictive loop: The euphoria‑share‑validation cycle (dopamine + social media likes) risks “PR addiction,” pushing athletes toward unsafe jumps.
7. Key Take‑aways for Lifters & Fans
- The rush is real: A 7× lift is basically a laboratory‑grade stress test that floods the body with performance‑enhancing and mood‑altering chemicals.
- Euphoria ≠ recovery: Enjoy the high, but prioritise deloads, carbs and at least 8 h sleep to prevent the cortisol hang‑over.
- Spectators feel it too: Your spine‑tingle while watching is a mirror‑neuron echo—leverage that hype, but keep perspective on safe progressions.
- Channel it constructively: Use the post‑PR dopamine window to set the next SMART goal, not just refresh views.
Stay ambitious, keep stacking plates (and maybe sats), but remember: biology loves balance. Harness the hormonal surge—don’t drown in it. 💪