Mitchell Hooper, the reigning World's Strongest Man, can deadlift 1,000 pounds and is vying for the world record in the exercise. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images Top strongman Mitchell Hooper is preparing to compete for the deadlift world record. Huge weights and long workouts aren't necessary for most people to build strength and muscle, he said. For an efficient workout, he recommends one hard set of basic exercises, such as squats or presses. For most people, lifting more than 1,000 pounds