Hot dog scarfing legend Joey Chestnut is already preparing body for war -- officially cutting off solid foods so he can be ready for the July 4th eating competition at Cony Island!!!
"I've already stopped eating," Chestnut told us Tuesday in NYC ... "No more solid food. Probably get a little sugar, maybe a little liquid amino acid but I'm gonna be empty and loose and ready to just tear it apart."
Chestnut owns the record for the famous Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest -- at 73 dogs! -- but he's confident this is the year he shatters that number!