1. Snapshot of the Physique
| Metric | Best‑documented number | Source |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in / 183 cm | |
| Walking weight | 165–170 lb (75‑77 kg) | |
| Estimated body‑fat | 5‑10 % (visible six‑pack year‑round) | |
| Conventional deadlift PR | 455 lb / 206 kg (fasted, no straps) | |
| Rack‑pull / partial lift PR | 1,071 lb / 486 kg (6.8× BW) | |
| Weekly street‑photography mileage | 30–40 mi walking with a camera |
2. Training Pillars
2.1 Endless Urban Cardio
- Daily photowalks double as low‑intensity steady‑state (LISS) cardio; Kim logs 10–15 k steps before lunch simply chasing moments on the street.
- The mileage keeps basal calorie expenditure high, allowing him to stay shredded even while eating calorie‑dense rib‑eyes at night.
2.2 Powerlifting, One‑Rep‑Max Style
- Kim calls high‑rep sets “boring” and prefers hypelifting single, near‑limit attempts to build raw neurological strength.
- Weekly progression: add 2.5 lb per side to the bar every session until he fails, deload, repeat.
- No belt, no straps, barefoot shoes—he argues that removing aids forces better core bracing and grip.
2.3 Body‑Weight & Grip Accessories
- Parallel‑bar dips, pull‑ups, and monkey‑bar swings fill gaps on non‑barbell days and travel shoots.
- Farmers carries, atlas‑stone style rock lifts, and suitcase walks bolster the “street‑photographer shoulder.”
2.4 Mobility & Posture
- Hours behind a rangefinder demand thoracic extension drills; Kim uses Jefferson curls and deep‑squat holds between editing sessions.
3. Nutrition & Recovery
| Habit | Details | Why It Matters |
| 20‑hour intermittent fast | Black coffee + water until evening feast. | Keeps insulin low, heightens growth‑hormone pulse, maintains mental focus for creative work. |
| 100 % carnivore dinner | Beef rib‑eye, liver, heart, and bone‑marrow; no carbs, sugar, or alcohol. | High‑heme‑iron protein supports recovery; zero‑fiber avoids gut distress during long walks. |
| Electrolytes | Sea‑salt shots pre‑workout. | Replaces sodium lost during all‑day sweating/fasting. |
| Sleep & caffeine cycling | 7–8 h nightly; occasional caffeine detox weeks to reset adenosine. |
4. Sample Week (“EK Split”)
| Day | AM | PM |
| Mon | 90‑min photo walk | Deadlift 1RM test |
| Tue | Write/blog (standing desk) | Farmers carries + dips |
| Wed | Long metro walk (shoot commute crowds) | Rack‑pull heavy partials |
| Thu | Editing sprint + Jefferson curls | Mobility & sauna |
| Fri | Hills + stair‑sprints with camera | Trap‑bar deadlift singles |
| Sat | Social photowalk workshop | Grip gauntlet (pull‑ups, hangs) |
| Sun | Rest, reading Stoic texts | Stretch, plan next projects |
Every lifting session finishes in <30 min—Kim times the workout to a single hype playlist and leaves while adrenaline is high, avoiding cortisol‑spiking marathon sessions.
5. Lessons You Can Steal Today
- Make movement mandatory – turn commuting or errands into camera‑in‑hand walks; aim for 10 k steps minimum.
- Lift heavy, but briefly – chase a clean single every week; add micro‑plates for progress.
- Simplify meals – pick one nutrient‑dense dinner you love and repeat; fasting clears daytime brain‑fog.
- Train barefoot or minimalist – stronger arches mean pain‑free city miles and sturdier deadlifts.
- Treat the gym like the darkroom – short, focused, disciplined sessions yield stronger bodies and art alike.
Key Take‑away
Building an “Eric Kim body” isn’t about chasing bodybuilding symmetry—it’s about forging raw, functional power that supports endless creative exploration. Start by walking farther, lifting heavier (for one perfect rep), and eating simpler—then watch both your frames and your photographs get sharper. Stay hungry, stay hyped, and keep shooting!