Mitchell Hooper by no means dreamed of changing into the world’s strongest man. This makes final 12 months’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 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 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 received the Arnold Strongman competitors for the second 12 months working. With a grasp’s in Medical Train Physiology and working a non-public clinic, his mission is to have the ability to educate others on all facets of coaching to assist them lead the healthiest lives they will.
Earlier than he defends final 12 months’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 12 months’s video games a bit 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 12 months’s World Strongest Man. He spends extra time on the highway 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 persistently 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 stated. “I really feel prefer it’s nonetheless new for somebody to come back up and be excited. Whenever you see the thrill on somebody’s face once you stroll down the road and also you’re simply current as you, it’s form of combating the sensation that you just’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 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 doable. He ran marathons and discovered what it was wish to maintain the load off. From there, his aggressive nature switched to give attention to how robust he may turn out to be.
One in every of Hooper’s best accomplishments was getting into a neighborhood bodybuilding present the place he positioned eleventh out of 12 contestants. Sure, he was each dangerous by his requirements in addition to many 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 discovered that he’s able to greater than he imagined.
“I discovered about myself as a lot as I discovered about different individuals — that actually anybody can do much more than you assume you’re able to in the event you simply get out of your means,” he stated. “I believe that myself and lots of different individuals self-sabotage by simply believing you can’t do issues or that you just’re going to mess one thing up otherwise you don’t have the boldness to exit and take a look at one thing.”
Mitchell Hooper Coaching Plan:
Hooper doesn’t practice at a Strongman or bodybuilding health club. He has a health club in his house and trains out of a business 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 mates 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 probably may, it could in all probability eat up a giant chunk of my day.”
Greatest A part of Coaching
Among the finest elements of coaching for Hooper is the truth that you’re objectively enhancing your self. This works as a optimistic for each his bodily and helps him mentally.
“You possibly can’t persuade your self out of I’m sooner, fitter, stronger, or no matter metric you’re chasing,” he stated. “I believe that’s an underpinning to stabilizing optimistic 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 plenty of occasions in World’s Strongest Man that may depart spectators bewildered. Hooper says a few of it doesn’t make sense to him both. He has no drawback with the coaching or working laborious however says you must be taught to search 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 Traditional, Hooper bulked up however will enter World Strongest Man at a lighter weight however healthier, 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).
- Publish-workout: Two fruit smoothies with two scoops of protein.
- Dinner: Eight ounces of meat (Cod), and greens.
- Dessert: Large 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
