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 grew to become 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 gymnasium require some planning from him. Though, he has loved the conversations, pictures, 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 house and automobile, 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 operating. With a grasp’s in Medical Train Physiology and operating a personal clinic, his mission is to have the ability to educate others on all facets of coaching to assist them lead the healthiest lives they’ll.
Earlier than he defends final yr’s World’s Strongest Man title this week in Myrtle Seashore, 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 slightly underweight.
Life Is Dramatically Totally different For Mitchell Hooper Now
Mitchell Hooper has made essentially the most out of the alternatives which have introduced themselves after profitable final yr’s World Strongest Man. He spends extra time on the street than he does at house, 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 may very well be difficult however Hooper says the eye has been nice for his private improvement and getting exterior of his consolation zone.
“It’s a means that I’ve been capable of develop rather a lot 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 return up and be excited. Whenever you see the joy on somebody’s face whenever you stroll down the road and also you’re simply current as you, it’s kind of combating the sensation that you simply’re not a superhuman particular person. 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 be capable of relate to something he requested any of his sufferers to do. After he completed his school soccer profession, he misplaced over 100 kilos and challenged himself to turn out to be as aerobically match as attainable. He ran marathons and discovered what it was wish to preserve the load off. From there, his aggressive nature switched to concentrate on how robust he may turn out to be.
One in every of Hooper’s best 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 all the time believed he was able to many issues however in each the method of changing into as match and as robust as he may, he discovered that he’s able to greater than he imagined.
“I discovered about myself as a lot as I discovered about different folks — that basically anybody can do much more than you assume you’re able to in the event you simply get out of your means,” he mentioned. “I feel that myself and plenty of different folks self-sabotage by simply believing that you would be able to’t do issues or that you simply’re going to mess one thing up otherwise you don’t have the arrogance to exit and take a look at one thing.”
Mitchell Hooper Coaching Plan:
Hooper doesn’t practice at a Strongman or bodybuilding gymnasium. He has a gymnasium in his house and trains out of a business gymnasium. What’s most necessary 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 have been to attempt to do each sort of heat up that I presumably may, it will in all probability eat up a giant chunk of my day.”
Greatest A part of Coaching
Among the best components of coaching for Hooper is the truth that you’re objectively enhancing your self. This works as a constructive for each his bodily and helps him mentally.
“You’ll be able to’t persuade your self out of I’m sooner, 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: Obligatory 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 quite a lot 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 drawback with the coaching or working onerous however says it’s a must to study to seek out enjoyment from the “necessary 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 blended 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 lively. 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
