Joey Chestnut is getting ready to reclaim his crown at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest — and he’s revealing the secret behind his success.
“I convince myself that there’s only one outcome [of] this contest,” Chestnut, 41, shared with The New York Post on Saturday, June 28, ahead of his return to Coney Island. The world record-holder, who plans to take on the best eaters in the world on July 4, will be facing off once again after a brief hiatus due to an endorsement deal with a plant-based brand.
Chestnut’s pre-contest routine is no ordinary one. He emphasized that staying calm is key, especially the night before the big event. “Stay calm. I usually watch some old practices, almost kind of simulated contests just swallowing air, go through the motions. Usually I’m in bed before 9 p.m., wake up about 5 a.m. and start doing stretches and yoga and burping exercises to get my stomach loose and stretched after sleeping.” he said.
But what exactly does a burping exercise look like? Chestnut broke it down: “I swallow air and burp it up just to get those muscles used to being stretched.
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The competitive eater keeps his throat lubricated with aloe vera juice, but he refrains from eating much solid food in the hours leading up to the contest. “The day before I usually have to eat a hot dog at the weigh-in,” he added. “Before that, I usually have some eggs for breakfast. Maybe a little bit of protein, like a protein shake. I go in really, really empty the day of the contest.”
After the contest, fans can expect Chestnut to go light on food. “Usually I’m in bed,” he shared. “Sometimes I’m going for a walk if I get up from sleeping. If I can, maybe some yogurt, maybe a little salad. I don’t really have much until the next day.”
Last year at the Pop Goes the Fort eating contest in Texas, Chestnut ate a whopping 57 hot dogs in just five minutes, beating the other four competitors who tapped out at 49 hot dogs.
Fans can tune in to watch Chestnut’s highly anticipated return on July 4 on ESPN.