They gobble hot dogs, burgers, matzo balls, mince pies and even cow brains in prodigious quantities, yet many of the best competitive eaters are rail-thin specimens. Welcome to the world of competitive eating. These champion gurgitators prove it's not about having the biggest gut to fill, but about being able to prepare mentally and physically for bombarding your system with 58 bratwurst in 10 minutes (Kobayashi at Brat Days, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, August 5, 2006). If you've ever dreamed of winning the local pie-eating contest or doing a Cool Hand Luke with 50 hard-boiled eggs, here are tips top competitors follow for a winning day at the table.
Try out your capacity as a competitive eater by entering a competition to see how well you do. If you do well, go on to the next step. Start training.
Step2
Train by eating one large meal a day and stretch it over many hours. Eat healthy food—not junk—and drink a gallon or so of water.
Step3
Work on eating, chewing and swallowing quickly. Always drink plenty of water. Because there's a possibility that you might choke while you're practicing, never do so alone.
Step4
Work on eating unfamiliar foods quickly, just in case a contest requires you to eat an unfamiliar food in competition. That way you'll never be unprepared.
Step5
Stay active during the day as well as exercise. This helps your body's metabolism stay high so you can recover quickly after a competitive eating event.
Step6
Go to the International Federation of Competitive Eating. There you can find all sorts of information on competitive eating contests. You can enter here as a competitor, and try out your skill at a competition.
Tips & Warnings
IFOCE officially discourages all home training, urging eaters and prospective eaters to prepare for future contests at sanctioned events, all of which are overseen by emergency medical personnel.
