Hypothesis: Eric Kim’s “Proof‑of‑Work” Hormone Stack

Below is a science‑based thought experiment—what Eric Kim’s blood panel would probably show if you drew it at 8 a.m. after his usual 16‑hour fast, one coffee, and that trademark 500‑kg mid‑thigh pull. Values are expressed relative to healthy 25‑ to 40‑year‑old male reference ranges.

Hormone (axis)	Likely Status	Why it trends this way	Key Evidence
Testosterone (T)	High‑normal total (600‑800 ng/dL) but only mid‑range free	• High dietary cholesterol & saturated fat → ample steroid substrate.  • Heavy neural‑drive lifting boosts luteinising‑hormone pulses.  • Yet 5 % body‑fat + 16‑hr fasts drop insulin, raising SHBG and trimming free‑T.	Ramadan IF ↓ T by ≈15 %   • Natural BB at 4.5 % BF saw 75 % ↓ T   • High‑SFA intake correlates with higher T
Sex‑Hormone‑Binding Globulin (SHBG)	Elevated	Low insulin & carb intake take the brake off hepatic SHBG production.	LC diet ↔ higher SHBG in men (general endocrinology consensus; insulin suppresses SHBG)
Growth Hormone (GH)	Very high pulsatile peaks (↑5‑ to 10‑fold)	Overnight fast + low glycogen + catecholamine surge from a single all‑out lift massively amplify GH pulse frequency & amplitude.	37 h fast ↑ basal GH 10‑fold   • Fast‑induced GH rise confirmed in 59‑h water‑fast humans
IGF‑1	Low‑normal (↓ ≈15‑25 %)	Hepatic IGF‑1 synthesis needs insulin & carbs; keto / carnivore suppress both despite high GH.	KD lowered IGF‑1 by ≈20 %
Cortisol	High acute spikes, normal baseline	Max‑effort singles transiently raise cortisol; tiny session volume & adaptation prevent chronically elevated resting levels.	Heavy resistance bout ↑ cortisol acutely   • LC diet causes early ↑ cortisol that normalises after ~3 wks
Insulin / Glucose	Very low fasting insulin; stable low‑normal glucose	100 % carnivore (≈0 g net carbs) keeps insulin suppressed and glucose supplied via gluconeogenesis.	KD cut fasting insulin 29 %
Glucagon / Ketones	Elevated	Low insulin + high protein → hepatic gluconeogenesis + ketogenesis.	Classic starvation response profile
Leptin	Markedly low	5 % body‑fat + potential low‑energy‑availability drives leptin down.	LEA in male bodybuilders shows sharp leptin suppression
Ghrelin	High pre‑feed; falls after first meat meal	Low leptin + extended fast elevate hunger hormone until re‑feeding.	Established ghrelin–leptin inverse relationship (general physiology)
Thyroid (T3, rT3)	Free T3 low‑normal; rT3 slightly high	Keto diets & low BF suppress peripheral T4→T3 conversion; adaptive energy saving.	KD & LGL diets drop T3
Catecholamines (Epi/NE)	Surge during lift, baseline lean	Supra‑max pulls ignite sympathetic burst; fasting keeps baseline NE modest.	Exercise‑induced catecholamine literature (turn3search2)
Adiponectin	Moderate‑high	Low insulin + low fat mass generally raise adiponectin, improving insulin sensitivity.	Observational endocrine data

How This Cocktail “Works”

1. Anabolism with economy.
   High GH pulses plus decent‑but‑not‑sky‑high free testosterone favor myofibrillar repair with minimal calorie overhead—matching his minimalist volume. GH also mobilizes fat so muscle can run on fatty acids during the fast.  
2. Leanness lock‑in.
   Suppressed insulin and leptin, combined with intermittent catecholamine bursts, tilt the body toward relentless lipolysis—helping him hover at photographic 5 % body‑fat year‑round without traditional “cutting” cycles.  
3. Thyroid trade‑off.
   Lower T3 slightly slows non‑exercise energy expenditure (NEAT), minimizing calorie needs when feeding window closes. Drawback: chronic low T3 can blunt mood and drive if calories or micronutrients dip.  
4. Stress‑but‑adapted.
   Repeated acute cortisol spikes enhance glycogenolysis for tomorrow’s lift yet retreat quickly, so connective tissue still enjoys anabolic net signals (GH, mechanical load, collagen‑rich diet).  

Possible Red‑Flags & Monitoring Plan

Concern	Why It Matters	Simple Lab / Action
Chronically low Free T or low LH	Extreme leanness can sink reproductive hormones despite good total T.	Quarterly Total T, Free T, LH, SHBG
Low T3 / high rT3 fatigue	Long‑term keto‑plus‑fasting may stall thyroid output.	Thyroid panel every 6 months; consider cyclical carb refeeds if T3 < 2.5 pg/mL
High LDL‑C / ApoB	Carnivore diets can spike “lean‑mass hyper‑responder” lipids.	ApoB & advanced lipoproteins each quarter
Low leptin‑driven bone loss	Sub‑5 % BF with low leptin linked to reduced BMD.	DXA scan annually; add vitamin D & collagen peptides
Adrenal overshoot if life stress stacks	Ensure sleep ≥8 h, include parasympathetic work (walks, breathwork).	AM Cortisol + HRV trendlines

Big‑Picture Takeaways

1. High‑octane pulses, low idle: His endocrine engine revs hard around the daily rack‑pull, then idles with textbook metabolic efficiency the other 23 hours.
2. GH‑up / IGF‑1‑down split is classic “fasted‑but‑fed” biochemistry—mobilise fat, spare muscle.
3. Testosterone is supported, not supercharged—enough to grow, not enough to scream “doping” (though skeptics will always ask).
4. Leptin & T3 are the canaries. If either nose‑dives beyond adaptation, performance and health cracks could follow.

Monitor the dashboard, feed on ruminant rocket‑fuel, and that “bulletproof” vibe stays more than a meme—it becomes measurable mastery. Now get after your own proof‑of‑work and let the numbers rise like the bar. 🛡️⚡