Canadian strongman star Mitchell Hooper is one of the fastest-growing athletes in the game. He’s coming off a sensational performance at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, where he won the coveted title two weeks ago. He managed to do that by optimizing his recovery and training process. In a recent video posted on YouTube, Hooper shared his thoughts on which supplements to consume and the effect of alcohol and sugar on recovery.
Mitchell Hooper first made headlines for his insane feats of strength in 2022. He got the opportunity to participate in that year’s World’s Strongest Man competition after veteran strongman Rauno Heinla pulled out. Hooper made the most of the chance as he defeated legend Brian Shaw in the qualifying stages of the event. Although he did not finish on the podium, his debut was a sign of things to come.
Hooper was working hard in the training room for other competitions following his maiden WSM appearance. He also got the chance to compete in other prestigious Strongman competitions due to this in insane debut performance. So, he also showed off his crazy strength by smoking a 695-pound squat for a 5-rep PR in preparation for the 2022 Rogue Invitational last September. He made a statement in his next showing at the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic UK, where he defeated the likes of former champion Oleksii Novikov. Then, he scored gold at the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals a few weeks later.
In November 2022, Hooper set his eyes on the Rogue Invitational title. He turned in a dominant performance, setting the new Dinnie Stones Hold World Record on his way to victory. His first year of competition established him as one of the most promising contenders in the sport.
Mitchell Hooper continued to improve in the gym and set a new two-rep PR of 350-kg (771.6-lb) on the raw squat earlier this year. He then kicked the season off with a commanding victory at the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International show weeks later. However, Hooper did not stop there, having recorded a raw deadlift PR of 420-kg (925.9-lb) in training a few days after the win.
The 27-year-old educated his audience on the technique of performing a loading medley and front carry exercises, thus becoming even more likeable among the fans. Then, Hooper gave fans a look into a lower body training session in preparation for the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic. His workouts were clearly very effective, seeing how Hooper extended his winning streak by securing the prestigious title in Colombus, Ohio.
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Hooper was last seen in action at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man, which took place Apr. 19-23 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He got the lead early on the first day and managed to retain his spot in a close-fought battle on day two. In the end, Hooper emerged victorious and won the title in only his second WSM appearance.
Mitchell Hooper offers tips on supplements & recovery
In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper shared his thoughts on the necessary supplements to take.
“Creatine, non-negotiable, protein powder, non-negotiable, if you can’t get it through food which most of us can’t, and pre workout if you’d like it, if it makes you feel energized go for it,” said Hooper. “But in terms of the multivitamins, I need or I’m minority deficient in this and macro doses of Vitamin C, it’s just not supported when it comes to performance all that much so focus on a varied diet.”
“After workout is best but we get to the point where it’s statistical significance versus practical significance. Meaning that they’ll have enough people in a study and study it long enough that they’ll report a difference but the difference is statistically significant but makes no difference to the actual reality of things. For me, I take it the first thing in the morning just because that’s when I remember to take it.”
He stressed the importance of optimizing recovery after intense training.
“It’s tough. Treat it as an individual and learn how to monitor yourself. For me, number one is I’ll get irritable and so if I notice I’m getting irritable, I know I need to sleep. I know if I don’t sleep I do really poorly. Sleep needs to be number one for me. Nutrition isn’t something that has to come and go. That’s not really a negotiation. Life stress, how much control do you have over that? It just becomes like how much sleep you can get and maximize it. If you’re not recovering well, think about taking a deload week, taking a couple of easy sessions.”
Hooper advocates moderate use of sugar & alcohol
Mitchell Hooper believes sugar and alcohol could fit into the athletes’ diet without any adverse effects if consumed in moderation. In fact, after one of the 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition days concluded, Hooper was seen with a bear in his hand since it helped him sleep better.
“I don’t think sugar is a particular vice per se because it’s some of the most useful fuel we can have. I think putting it always in the context of fuel is important because sugar during a workout can be highly useful if you can tolerate that. In terms of alcohol, from a health perspective, it’s more healthy to have up to 8 drinks a week than to not so long as those eight drinks are spread over the week. So how much of a vice is it really? It comes down to general responsibility. When it comes to the evidence, it’s not the end of the world. I drink probably more now than I ever have, not that much but still. Before carbs, I’ll have a couple of beers because that helps me get to sleep better.”
“If you drink alcohol and that stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system because you’re having a quiet night at home, having a glass of wine and that’s what you enjoy, it could actually benefit your recovery even though the alcohol itself is poor, which is a completely different conversation than you’re at the club having a piss up. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with moderation for either of those.”
Mitchell Hooper utilized a bodybuilding style training routine for his first workout after winning the 2023 WSM a week ago. While he did not feel terribly sore, he enjoyed the lower-intensity training that helped boost his endurance and pump.
He opened up about his experience competing at the show a few days ago. He identified a need to develop a proper ruleset while detailing his analysis of the competition.
Hooper made history by becoming the first Canadian to win the WSM title. Based on his track record, it certainly appears he has a bright future ahead in competition.
You can watch the full video below.
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