In addition to running and working out five days a week, his training regimen involves focusing on the food item to be consumed six to eight weeks before a competition so that he becomes acclimated to eating massive quantities of the food. While practicing for the 2017 Nathan's competition, he consumed as many as 1,000 hot dogs. His technique for hot dog competitive eating is to eat two hot dogs, chewed just enough to swallow, followed by two buns softened with water. He stops eating for as long as two days after a competition, before resuming his usual diet.
