Because of “The Moose,” the cat is formally out of the bag.
Mitchell Hooper, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man and winner of the 2024 Giants Live World Tour Finals, has develop into a trusted useful resource as he’s etched his identify into strongman file books time and time once more. Wanting to share his data about coaching, vitamin, and his favourite sport, Hooper didn’t hesitate to reveal key methods which have enabled him to develop into one of the crucial dominant figures in strongman historical past.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel on Oct. 16, 2024, the Canadian native revealed 5 secrets and techniques to his success, together with one that you could be not instantly affiliate with athletes who elevate ridiculously heavy objects for a residing. Test it out under:
Mitchell Hooper’s 5 Secrets and techniques to Strongman Success
With a beefy resume of athletic feats backed by a kinesiology diploma and years of experimentation, Hooper has loads of knowledge to supply. So, what does it take to be the very best in your online business?
Let’s dive into his 5 “secrets and techniques” which can be now not a secret.
5. Consistency, Consistency, Consistency
Should you assume you’re dedicated to excellence, take heed to what Hooper needed to say about his stage of dedication.
“For 15 years, I’ve non-negotiably hit no matter program I’ve determined to make myself or I’ve had a coach give me.”
Whereas he’s targeted totally on heavy strength training, Hooper acknowledged he’s gone by phases that embrace extra working, too. Both approach, he embraces the problem of pushing his physique to the bounds.
“I really like to have the ability to look myself within the mirror and know that I’m inarguably, objectively getting higher indirectly of my life,” Hooper defined. “For some people who might be their financial institution steadiness—for me it’s how a lot can my physique do.”
Being blessed with wonderful genetics will definitely offer you a leg up. The place Hooper actually separates himself from the pack is his intimate data of how the physique operates.
With a grasp’s diploma in medical train physiology and a bachelor’s diploma in human kinetics, the previous World’s Strongest Man believes he has a “huge psychological aggressive benefit” over his brethren. Whether or not in mattress or within the bathe, Hooper brainstorms totally different biomechanical enhancements he could make to boost his strongman efficiency.
Some notable technical adjustments he’s made embrace:
If you wish to develop into an elite strongman, cease skipping cardio. Though Hooper’s career facilities round lifting heavy objects, he’ll be the primary to confess that cardio health performs a key consider his success.
“I’m not aerobically match in comparison with the typical lively particular person, however I do my greatest to remain transferring, to go for runs, to contemplate my cardio health.”
How does this translate to strongman? Hooper famous that improved lactate elimination will cut back the burning feeling in your muscular tissues, which might present a psychological increase.
“That burning feeling leads to neural inhibitionanddecreased power manufacturing because of this,” he defined.
Like strongmen, stressors come in numerous types. Moderately than getting overwhelmed by household, funds, and staying match, Hooper maintains a specific mindset to stay as calm, cool, and picked up as attainable.
“Finally, I see this extra as doing issues that you simply get pleasure from than not doing disturbing issues.”
Vitamin
Whereas many health fanatics give attention to hitting their fats, carb, and protein targets, Hooper has a very totally different outlook.
“Hitting macronutrients is simple and ineffective.”
As an alternative, the strongman pays shut consideration to micronutrients, that are equally (if no more) vital than macros. Hooper highlighted a number of causes for prioritizing micros over macros:
They assist with vitality manufacturing
They assist with digestion
They assist together with your means to retailer meals as vitality for the longer term
Though he admittedly doesn’t eat clear all the time, Hooper takes the 80-20 strategy, which is extra sensible for the on a regular basis particular person, too.
Sleep
Getting high quality zzz’s is an instrumental but typically ignored facet of well being and health. As Hooper put it in bluntly:
“Sleep is the very best performance-enhancing drug that most individuals select to not take with no detrimental uncomfortable side effects.”
How a lot sleep is sufficient?
Based on Hooper, eight hours is the “absolute minimal,” however you need to shoot for 9 to 10 hours for optimum restoration.
1. Vitamin
“Vitamin is the worst performed factor in strongman.”
Coming from a former champion who rigorously considers each performance-related issue, that ought to function a wake-up name to different athletes. Hooper referred to as out opponents for “gorging on pizzas and cheesecakes,” evaluating strongmen to massive 5-year-olds.
“In case your physique is infected and poisonous and you’ve got free radicals in every single place, it’s going to be very troublesome so that you can carry out at your greatest.”
What does a typical day of consuming seem like for Hooper? Harkening again to his first secret to success, he retains issues constant.
Hooper eats 5,500 energy throughout six meals a day “nearly all yr” to keep up his 325-pound body.
He believes wherever between 15-25% physique fats is perfect for power sports activities.
Finally, it takes dedication, diligence, and self-discipline to assist elite efficiency. Whereas following Hooper’s 5 secrets and techniques doesn’t assure you’ll hoist a strongman trophy in the future, implementing his ideas ought to foster a more healthy life-style that means that you can maximize your potential.
