Yo, let’s get HYPED! Powerlifting fasted for that one-rep max (1RM) isn’t just a technique—it’s a philosophy, a lifestyle, a straight-up rebellion against the ordinary. This is HYPELIFTING, my friends, the Eric Kim way of explosive self-empowerment. When you step into the gym, stomach growling, body lean, and mind razor-sharp, you’re not just lifting weights—you’re lifting your entire existence to the next level. I’m here to break down why fasting before your max lift makes sense, why it’s the ultimate path to unlocking your inner Titan, and how it’s transformed my journey from a street photographer to a guy pulling 471 kg (1,038.8 pounds) at 165 pounds body weight. Let’s dive into the raw, unfiltered truth, fueled by adrenaline, discipline, and a whole lotta meat. Ready? Let’s GO!
The HYPELIFTING Mindset: Why Fasted Powerlifting?
Picture this: it’s 6 AM, the world’s asleep, and I’m in my garage gym, no breakfast, no lunch, just black coffee pulsing through my veins. The bar’s loaded with plates—so many it looks like a skyscraper. I’m about to hit a one-rep max rack pull, and I’m fasted. Why? Because fasting isn’t deprivation—it’s liberation. It’s stripping away the noise, the fluff, the excuses, and getting to the core of who you are. In HYPELIFTING, we don’t lift to impress; we lift to transcend. Here’s why fasting for that 1RM is the ultimate power move:
1. Mental Clarity Like a Samurai Sword
When you’re fasted, your mind is a laser. No food clogging your system, no blood sugar spikes dulling your focus. It’s just you, the bar, and the mission. I’ve found that skipping breakfast and lunch before a max lift sharpens my senses—every muscle fiber, every breath, every heartbeat is in sync. It’s like being a samurai before battle: calm, precise, ready to strike. Science backs this up—fasting boosts catecholamines like adrenaline and norepinephrine, heightening alertness and reaction time (Intermittent Fasting and Cognitive Performance). For me, this clarity is everything when I’m eyeing a 1,000-pound Atlas lift or a 471 kg rack pull. You’re not just lifting weight—you’re conquering doubt, fear, and mediocrity in one explosive moment.
2. Adrenaline Rush: Your Inner Beast Unleashed
Fasting flips a primal switch. Your body, sensing no food, ramps up adrenaline to keep you sharp—think caveman hunting on an empty stomach. This is your fight-or-flight mode, and in the gym, it’s pure rocket fuel. When I’m fasted, my heart pounds, my grip tightens, and I feel like I could rip the bar in half. That adrenaline surge is what pushed me to pull 6.3 times my body weight, no belt, no straps, just raw will. Studies show fasting increases epinephrine, which enhances muscle contraction and power output (Fasting and Exercise Performance). For a one-rep max, where every ounce of power counts, this is your secret weapon. You’re not just lifting—you’re roaring at the universe, “I AM UNSTOPPABLE!”
3. Lean and Mean: No Bloat, All Power
Ever try a max lift after a big meal? You’re sluggish, bloated, and half your energy’s stuck digesting that burrito. Fasting eliminates this. My body feels light, muscles primed, no excess weight dragging me down. At 165 pounds, every kilo I lift is pure efficiency—6.3x my body weight in a rack pull isn’t just strength; it’s precision. Fasting keeps my system clean, letting blood flow to muscles, not my stomach. Research supports this: fasted exercise enhances fat oxidation and spares glycogen for explosive efforts like a 1RM (Fasted Exercise and Muscle Performance). When I’m fasted, I’m a coiled spring, ready to unleash hell on that bar.
4. Stoic Discipline: Embracing the Suck
HYPELIFTING isn’t about comfort—it’s about embracing discomfort to forge character. Fasting before a max lift is a stoic test: you’re hungry, you’re intense, but you channel that hunger into the bar. It’s like life—sometimes you’re empty, but you still gotta show up and CRUSH IT. I fast 16–18 hours daily, lifting in that window, and it’s taught me to dominate my impulses. This mental toughness carried me from 710 pounds in 2023 to 1,038.8 pounds in 2025. Fasting isn’t just physical; it’s a mindset. You’re saying, “I don’t need food to be strong. I AM STRENGTH.” Let that sink in, and watch your PRs soar.
The Eric Kim Technique: How I Powerlift Fasted for 1RM
Now, let’s get practical. How do I, Eric Kim, pull off these insane lifts—471 kg rack pulls, 1,000-pound Atlas lifts—while fasted? It’s not magic; it’s method, discipline, and a whole lotta HYPE. Here’s my blueprint, straight from the garage gym to your soul:
Step 1: Fast with Purpose
I fast 16–18 hours daily, skipping breakfast and lunch. My last meal is a massive 5–6 pounds of beef or lamb the night before, loaded with protein and fat to fuel recovery. I sip black coffee or water in the morning—nothing else. This isn’t starvation; it’s strategic. Fasting primes my body for explosive power, keeping me lean (165 pounds, ~10% body fat) and my mind sharp. I lift in the late morning or early afternoon, deep in the fasted state, when adrenaline peaks. Try it: skip breakfast, feel the hunger, and channel it into your lift. It’s like pouring gasoline on your inner fire.
Step 2: Micro-Loads for Macro Gains
I don’t jump from 500 to 1,000 pounds overnight. It’s about incremental progress—2.5 pounds per side every few days. My rack pull journey started at 710 pounds in 2023, and by May 2025, I hit 471 kg. Each session, I nudge the weight up, building confidence and strength. Fasting doesn’t sap my energy; it enhances my focus, letting me nail these micro-progressions. For your 1RM, add small plates weekly, stay consistent, and watch the bar bend over time. Patience plus HYPE equals DOMINATION.
Step 3: The One-Rep Max Ritual
When it’s 1RM day, I’m a warrior entering the arena. Here’s my ritual, fasted and fierce:
This ritual got me to 1,038.8 pounds in a rack pull (Eric Kim’s New Personal Record). You can do it too—fast, focus, and unleash your beast.
Step 4: Recover Like a Carnivore King
Post-lift, I break my fast with a feast—5–6 pounds of ribeye, brisket, or lamb, slow-cooked to perfection. Protein rebuilds muscle; fat fuels recovery. I sleep 8–12 hours nightly, letting my body repair and grow stronger. Fasting pre-lift doesn’t weaken me; it sets up this anabolic rebound. Research shows fasting followed by high-protein meals boosts muscle protein synthesis (Fasting and Muscle Recovery). Eat big, sleep deep, and come back ready to crush it again.
Why It Makes Sense: The Science and Soul of Fasted 1RM
Let’s break it down—why does fasted powerlifting for a one-rep max make sense, both in your body and your spirit?
The Science: Fasting as Performance Enhancer
The Soul: HYPELIFTING as Life Philosophy
Fasted powerlifting isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual. In HYPELIFTING, every lift is a metaphor for life. Fasting teaches you to thrive in scarcity, to find strength when others would crumble. When I pulled 471 kg, fasted, no belt, no straps, it wasn’t just a lift—it was a declaration: “I don’t need comfort to conquer.” This is what makes it sense. You’re not just building muscle; you’re building character, resilience, and an unbreakable will. Every fasted 1RM is a step toward becoming the hero of your own story.
My Journey: From 710 to 1,038.8 Pounds, Fasted
Let’s make it real. In 2023, I was pulling 710 pounds in a rack pull, fasted, feeling strong but hungry for more. By March 2025, I hit a 1,000-pound Atlas lift (Unorthodox Strength Challenges), and by May 2025, I crushed 471 kg (1,038.8 pounds) in a rack pull (Eric Kim’s 6x Bodyweight Rack Pull). Each step was fasted, each rep a testament to HYPELIFTING. Fasting didn’t weaken me—it forged me. At 165 pounds, lifting 6.3x my body weight, I’m living proof that this works. No supplements, no steroids, just meat, sleep, and an unrelenting drive to be MORE.
Why You Should Try It: Your Call to Action
Fasted powerlifting for a one-rep max isn’t for everyone—it’s for the bold, the hungry, the ones who dare to be legendary. Here’s how to start:
Start small, but dream BIG. Your first fasted 1RM could be 135 pounds, 315, or 500—doesn’t matter. What matters is you’re stepping into the arena, fasted, fearless, ready to rewrite your limits.
The Bigger Picture: HYPELIFTING for Life
Fasted powerlifting is more than a gym trick—it’s a way to live. Every time I lift fasted, I’m training for life’s battles. The hunger, the focus, the triumph—it’s all a mirror for how we tackle challenges. My 471 kg rack pull, my 1,000-pound Atlas lift, they’re not just numbers; they’re proof that you can do the impossible when you strip away excuses and go ALL IN. HYPELIFTING is about explosive self-empowerment, and fasting is the spark that lights the fuse.
So, what’s your 1RM? Not just in the gym, but in LIFE? What’s the weight you’re scared to lift, the goal you’re hungry for? Fast, focus, and pull it with everything you’ve got. Let’s get HYPED, let’s get STRONG, let’s make the universe jealous of our hustle. Check out my journey at Eric Kim Photography for more fire, and let’s lift this world to new heights—fasted, fearless, FOREVER!
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