Hey folks. A couple of weeks ago we recorded a show on competitive eating. Turns out we have a real life competitive eater (ranked #22) as a fan and he was kind enough to send us in a comprehensive email about this pastime. I’ve whittled it down to the question and answer portion so we can all get a little insight into this unusual competition.

So having said that, I give you Eric Livingston, aka STEAKBELLIE!!

What about competitive eating excites you? Why do it?

I’ve been getting into trouble for eating too fast since I was a kid, so naturally I have some talent there. I have a lot of special memories as a kid of eating meals with my grandparents and cousins. I think breaking bread with someone can create a special bond. I enjoy the people involved in competitive eating (CE) as much as the contest itself. Competitive eaters are surgeons, construction workers, chefs, IT professionals, day traders, college students, moms and dads.
For me it’s an opportunity to not take myself so seriously, and have some “carnival fun.” I still try very hard to win but I wear a Scottish kilt to the table as a reminder that all of this is for a good time (and good ventilation).

Is it expensive to train for competitions?

The great Crazy Legs Conti has said “If you can afford lunch, then you can afford to be a competitive eater.” Training can sometimes be expensive according to the food. Hot dogs take the longest to train for and I’ll buy several hundred in the month before.

How do you stay fit?

While I am able to eat a considerable amount of food in a sitting, as a parent, I have a responsibility to my family and my body to take care of myself. Generally I don’t eat at McDonalds and avoid trans-fats. I only eat hot dogs in competition. This year I want to completely eliminate corn syrup from my diet. I run and bike some and try to stay active. CE gets you thinking about the ingredients in food and I found that processed foods are pretty horrible in large quantities.
I am a sucker for pizza however. I will keep eating until it’s gone.

What is your favorite victory?

I compete on a national circuit, so WINNING a contest is very difficult with eaters like Joey Chestnut from California, Sonya Thomas from Virginia, or Takeru Kobayashi from Japan. I have a contract that doesn’t allow me to compete in any unsanctioned or local contests.

Wing Bowl is my absolute favorite contest. It is a combination of Mardi-Gras and the Mummers. We dress up in costume, build floats and parade around in front of 35,000 people in the sold out Wachovia Center. It is uniquely Philly. I wait all year for this contest.

I am also pretty proud of my world record for haggis which I set on the “Preston & Steve Show” a few months ago. I even got interviewed on the BBC for that.

I think the best run contest on the circuit is the Krystal Square Off. I will actually be flying down to Atlanta on September 13th to try to qualify for the finals in Tennessee. I ate 35 in eight minutes last year which is pretty respectable. It will be harder this year because the rules have been changed to “picnic style.” This means that you can’t dunk the burgers in liquid. I intend to eat over 40, so feel free to come down to the Lenox Mall and watch the spectacle!

What is your strategy when you compete?

It’s important to have tried the food at least once and determine the quickest way to eat it. Find out how it will be prepared and presented. Baked or Fried? Five or 10 to a plate? Served hot or cold? Will you need a lot of water to get the food down quickly? Do a trial run under “game conditions.”

Most contests only last eight minutes, so I like to have an idea ahead of time what my capacity will be for that type of food. My first two minutes of eating sometimes will equal 50 percent of the total quantity of food I will eat!

What is the most difficult thing about your sport?

Ironically, CE is mostly mental. You must have the discipline to regulate your calorie consumption in the days/weeks before and after a contest. Some people call CE gluttony, but Gluttony is the complete lack of discipline. This is highly controlled and is the opposite. Getting fat is no fun.

Put down the hot dog and read something:
How Competitive Eating Works
Herbal Remedies for Diarrhea
How the Obesity Paradox Works