Editing Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (section)

==Tactics and training==
Each contestant has his or her own eating method. [[Takeru Kobayashi]] pioneered the "Solomon Method" at his first competition in 2001. The Solomon method consists of breaking each hot dog in half, eating the two halves at once, and then eating the bun.

"Dunking" is the most prominent method used today. Because buns absorb water, many contestants dunk the buns in water and squeeze them to make them easier to swallow, and slide down the throat more efficiently.<ref name="2011 ESPN broadcast"/>

Other methods used include the "Carlene Pop", where the competitor jumps up and down while eating, to force the food down to the stomach.<ref name="2011 ESPN broadcast"/> "Buns & Roses" is a similar trick, but the eater sways from side to side instead.<ref name="2011 ESPN broadcast"/> "Juliet-ing" is a cheating method in which players simply throw the hot dog buns over their shoulders.<ref name="2011 ESPN broadcast"/>

Contestants train and prepare for the event in different ways. Some [[Fasting|fast]]; others prefer liquid-only diets before the event. Takeru Kobayashi meditates, drinks water and eats cabbage, then fasts before the event. Several contestants, such as Ed "Cookie" Jarvis, aim to be "hungry, but not too hungry" and have a light breakfast the morning of the event.