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 fitness center 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 successful 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 Medical 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’ll.
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 successful and why he’s heading into this yr’s video games a little 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 successful final yr’s World Strongest Man. He spends extra time on the street 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 persistently by strangers may very well be difficult however Hooper says the eye has been nice for his private improvement and getting outdoors of his consolation zone.
“It’s a way that I’ve been able to grow a lot and it’s something I’m really thankful for in my sporting career,” Hooper mentioned. “I feel like it’s still new for someone to come up and be excited. When you see the excitement on someone’s face when you walk down the street and you’re just existing as you, it’s sort of fighting the feeling that you’re not a superhuman person. I’m just a regular guy.”
Hooper Entered World Strongest Man as A Problem to Himself
Given his medical background, Hooper made the choice that he ought to be capable to 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 preserve the load off. From there, his aggressive nature switched to give attention to how robust he may turn out to be.
Considered one 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 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 learned about myself as much as I learned about other people — that really anyone can do a lot more than you think you’re capable of if you just get out of your way,” he mentioned. “I think that myself and many other people self-sabotage by just believing that you can’t do things or that you’re going to mess something up or you don’t have the confidence to go out and try something.”
Mitchell Hooper Coaching Plan:
Hooper doesn’t practice at a Strongman or bodybuilding fitness center. He has a fitness center in his residence and trains out of a industrial fitness center. What’s most vital to him is being round different motivated people. He doesn’t want any music and enjoys resting in between units chatting with pals and sharing fun.
Warming Up
Hooper prefers to work himself into a lightweight sweat earlier than shifting 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 strong man,” Hooper says. “I’m a full-time business owner and the strongman is just something that I also happen to do. If I were to try to do every type of warm up that I possibly could, it would probably eat up a big chunk of my day.”
Greatest A part of Coaching
Among the best elements of coaching for Hooper is the truth that you’re objectively bettering your self. This works as a optimistic for each his bodily and helps him mentally.
“You can’t convince yourself out of I am faster, fitter, stronger, or whatever metric you’re chasing,” he mentioned. “I think that’s an underpinning to stabilizing positive mental health.”
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 whole 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 downside with the coaching or working exhausting however says you need to study to search out enjoyment from the “mandatory self-mutilation” that comes from the occasions.
Mitchell Hooper Diet Plan:
Diet: 5,000 – 5,550 energy a day
Hooper started working with skilled bodybuilder and powerlifter Stan Efferding to help in his diet. 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 more healthy, which is able to assist his endurance.
- Breakfast: Orange juice, Greek yogurt combined right into a protein shake, a couple of 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: Huge bowl of yogurt with honey and peanut butter.
Restoration: A Good Enjoyable 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
