Happy Feet Is The Strangest Tactic In The World Of Competitive Eating

Some people play basketball, others are apt in tennis, but for some, competitive eating is where they thrive. It's quite impressive too, with contestants downing dozens of hot dogs in an unfathomable amount of time. One of the most popular yearly events for this sport is Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, which first took place in 1972 at Coney Island. Since the contest began decades ago, many eaters have found ways to subtly game the system, giving them a one-up on their opponents. 

In an interview with GQ, lobster contest winner Bob Shoudt, revealed a technique dubbed happy feet. This trick involves sneakily dropping pieces of food to the ground and stomping them in to hide them. Admittedly, Shoudt has done this before. He even has a method in which he teams up with his wife when the opportunity for happy feet is just right. "If the eaters are dropping stuff like crazy, she'll give a meaningless cheer," he confessed. "I'll understand. Suddenly the food gets very slippery for me." This is only one gamble competitive eaters take to secure a win — there are plenty more ways to check the cards and roll the dice.

Just like wrestlers work to cut weight before a contest, competitive food eaters have a few tactics that prepare their stomachs for the upcoming abuse. Believe it or not, gaining weight can help you consume more food, as you're expanding your stomach capacity as you increase your food intake. During the contest itself, carbohydrates should serve as the finale — this will improve the taste and make it easier to down more food. It's also recommended to eat quickly in the beginning, taking small bites rather than large chunks to help you swallow it faster.

Currently, the hot dog eating world champion is Joey Chestnut, who ate 70 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. Beyond this, he is also the record holder for consuming deep-fried asparagus, hardboiled eggs, and Matzoh balls. He explained to Insider that it takes him months to prepare for competitions and he does a practice contest every week leading up to it. Chestnut also revealed he does a two-day cleanse of water and lemon juice right before the event. "Most people, when you eat food, it takes nine to 10 hours to really digest it," he said. "After I do a cleanse, things are moving quickly."