Mitchell Hooper by no means dreamed of changing into the world’s strongest man. This makes final yr’s win each distinctive and spectacular as he additionally turned the first Canadian to be named ‘World’s Strongest Man’ and doing so in solely his second time competing.
Whereas there are perks that include being named the world’s strongest man, Hooper’s focus has remained on impacting others. Naturally introverted, journeys to the grocery retailer, eating places, and even the health club require some planning from him. Though, he has loved the conversations, photographs, and nice exchanges which have come from followers and supporters who merely need their very own expertise with him. Hooper was capable of purchase his dream residence and automotive, and his companies have all taken off since profitable the World’s Strongest Man, however he hasn’t relaxed.
Simply final month, Hooper gained the Arnold Strongman competitors for the second yr working. With a grasp’s in Scientific Train Physiology and working a personal clinic, his mission is to have the ability to educate others on all points of coaching to assist them lead the healthiest lives they will.
Earlier than he defends final yr’s World’s Strongest Man title this week in Myrtle Seaside, SC, M&F caught up with Mitchell Hooper to talk on what led to him competing within the occasion, how life modified after profitable and why he’s heading into this yr’s video games a bit underweight.
Life Is Dramatically Completely different For Mitchell Hooper Now
Mitchell Hooper has made probably the most out of the alternatives which have introduced themselves after profitable final yr’s World Strongest Man. He spends extra time on the highway than he does at residence, and he’s gotten used to the strangers that method him with pleasure as soon as they acknowledge him. For somebody who has by no means been enamored with fame, having your non-public time interrupted constantly by strangers might be difficult however Hooper says the eye has been nice for his private growth and getting exterior of his consolation zone.
“It’s a means that I’ve been capable of develop so much and it’s one thing I’m actually grateful for in my sporting profession,” Hooper mentioned. “I really feel prefer it’s nonetheless new for somebody to come back up and be excited. Whenever you see the joy on somebody’s face once you stroll down the road and also you’re simply current as you, it’s type of combating the sensation that you simply’re not a superhuman individual. I’m only a common man.”
Hooper Entered World Strongest Man as A Problem to Himself
Given his medical background, Hooper made the choice that he ought to have the ability to relate to something he requested any of his sufferers to do. After he completed his faculty soccer profession, he misplaced over 100 kilos and challenged himself to turn into as aerobically match as potential. He ran marathons and realized what it was wish to hold the load off. From there, his aggressive nature switched to give attention to how robust he may turn into.
One among Hooper’s biggest accomplishments was coming into a neighborhood bodybuilding present the place he positioned eleventh out of 12 contestants. Sure, he was each unhealthy by his requirements in addition to a lot of the areas a bodybuilder is judged upon, however he found the enjoyment within the course of. Hooper at all times believed he was able to many issues however in each the method of changing into as match and as robust as he may, he realized that he’s able to greater than he imagined.
“I realized about myself as a lot as I realized about different individuals — that actually anybody can do much more than you suppose you’re able to in case you simply get out of your means,” he mentioned. “I feel that myself and plenty of different individuals self-sabotage by simply believing you can’t do issues or that you simply’re going to mess one thing up otherwise you don’t have the boldness to exit and check out one thing.”
Mitchell Hooper Coaching Plan:
Hooper doesn’t practice at a Strongman or bodybuilding health club. He has a health club in his residence and trains out of a industrial health club. What’s most essential to him is being round different motivated people. He doesn’t want any music and enjoys resting in between units chatting with buddies and sharing amusing.
Warming Up
Hooper prefers to work himself into a lightweight sweat earlier than transferring right into a working set. For deadlifts, he’ll do seven to eight reps of two plates earlier than including extra at one set every. As soon as he feels warmed up, he then begins his working set.
“I’m not a full-time robust man,” Hooper says. “I’m a full-time enterprise proprietor and the strongman is simply one thing that I additionally occur to do. If I had been to attempt to do each kind of heat up that I presumably may, it might in all probability eat up a giant chunk of my day.”
Greatest A part of Coaching
Probably the greatest components of coaching for Hooper is the truth that you’re objectively bettering your self. This works as a constructive for each his bodily and helps him mentally.
“You possibly can’t persuade your self out of I’m quicker, fitter, stronger, or no matter metric you’re chasing,” he mentioned. “I feel that’s an underpinning to stabilizing constructive psychological well being.”
Worst A part of Coaching: Necessary Self-Mutilation
From the ripped arm hair from cheesy used for gripping of the Atlas Stones, mangled thumbs, and cuts on the shin from deadlifting to the numbing and nerve ache within the forearm from Conan’s Wheel — there are a number of occasions in World’s Strongest Man that may go away spectators bewildered. Hooper says a few of it doesn’t make sense to him both. He has no downside with the coaching or working exhausting however says you must be taught to seek out enjoyment from the “obligatory self-mutilation” that comes from the occasions.
Mitchell Hooper Vitamin Plan:
Vitamin: 5,000 – 5,550 energy a day
Hooper started working with skilled bodybuilder and powerlifter Stan Efferding to help in his vitamin. He eats about 5,000 to five,550 energy a day. Within the lead as much as the Arnold Strongman Basic, Hooper bulked up however will enter World Strongest Man at a lighter weight however more healthy, which can assist his endurance.
- Breakfast: Orange juice, Greek yogurt combined right into a protein shake, just a few cups of cereal.
- Meal 2 and three: San Efferding’s Monster Mash (floor beef or floor rooster with rice and beef broth).
- Put up-workout: Two fruit smoothies with two scoops of protein.
- Dinner: Eight ounces of meat (Cod), and greens.
- Dessert: Massive bowl of yogurt with honey and peanut butter.
Restoration: A Good Stress-free Stroll
Given his busy schedule, Hooper prefers his restoration to be energetic. Nailing 10,000 steps a day is a minimal requirement for him and that is each for the bodily and psychological advantages.
Comply with Mitchell on Instagram @mitchellhooper
