This article explores the multifaceted concept of "donut diets" by examining both the extreme dieting practices of comedian Kevin James and the competitive eating feats of James Webb, set against the backdrop of National Donut Day and its historical significance. It also touches upon the life and work of actor James Coco, whose own struggles with weight led him to write a diet book.
National Donut Day: A Sweet Tribute with Competitive Edge
National Donut Day, observed annually, carries a rich history rooted in the selfless service of The Salvation Army "Donut Lassies" during World War I. These women provided comfort to soldiers on the front lines by serving them donuts. The Salvation Army continues this tradition by serving families and people in crisis throughout the National Capital Area of DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Whether it is a hot meal or help paying a bill, their team is ready to serve anyone in need.
The modern celebration of National Donut Day often includes competitive eating contests, such as the Salvation Army National Donut Day World Donut Eating Championship. The 2025 event, scheduled for June 6th at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., promises to be a memorable occasion. Last year, James Webb set a towering world record, devouring 70 glazed donuts in eight minutes. This year, competitors return with one goal: to beat the record and honor the tradition. With a $3,000 prize purse and $1,500 to the winner, competitors have more than glory on the line. Whether you're stepping up to compete or simply soaking in the atmosphere, this is more than a contest-it’s a celebration of courage, commitment, and community. Against the backdrop of our nation’s capital and the solemn beauty of the World War I Memorial, the stakes feel bigger, and the meaning deeper. Be there when history meets hunger. The contest will take place at 2:00PM EST on Friday, June 6th 2025, at the National World War 1 Memorial, located at 1449-1455 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C 20004. This annual National Donut Day event brings to San Diego some of the nation’s top competitive eaters, including Miki Sudo, the world’s top-ranked female competitive eater, and the fourth overall ranking major-league eater, Nick Wehry. For the up-and-coming James Webb, winning the contest in record-setting fashion is a feather in his donut-devouring hat.
These contests draw top competitive eaters. He is currently the number 10-ranked professional eater in the United States.
James Webb: A Champion's Perspective
James Webb, a prominent figure in the competitive eating scene, approaches the challenge with both enthusiasm and respect. “I was born with a fat head and a good appetite, and now I’m just putting them both to good use,” said the fun-loving James. “I have the biggest, sweet tooth, so I really enjoyed this one. To be honest, I just want to brush my teeth.”
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Reflecting on his experience, James, a 34-year-old Australian, shared his appreciation for the event's deeper meaning: “This is unbelievable,” said James. “I’ve never been on a naval warship before and never touched a fighter jet. And I’ve also never eaten this many donuts. This was a good day at the office. Obviously, we’re here for a good reason, there’s always a higher cause, so I’m glad we could raise money.”
With a new world record in the books, the Salvation Army is aiming even higher for the competition in 2024.
Looking ahead, organizers are eager to elevate the event further. “Next year we hope to have Joey Chestnut return to take on James Webb,” said Jake. “It would be great to have Fox Sports or ESPN broadcast the event live.”
James, while acknowledging the prowess of his competitors, maintains a humble attitude. “I respect Joey,” said James. “He’s top tier. I just like to be next to him and compete against him. That’s enough for me.
Kevin James and the Perils of Crash Dieting
Comedian Kevin James has been open about his struggles with weight and his experiences with extreme dieting. In a recent conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan, the comic actor explained that he lost weight to play a priest in a movie, getting down to 230 pounds. After shooting ended, his weight rose back up to 280 pounds. Then, when he was then told he had to shoot some additional scenes, James realized he needed to drop the weight again. This led to a discussion about James' past habit of crash-dieting.
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James recounted a particularly drastic instance where he went "41 and a half" days without food, consuming only "water and a little salt" to replenish his electrolytes. "When I lock on, I can do something," he said. "I started fasting, I didn't say 'I'm going to do 40 days,' I just said 'I'm going to do whatever I can'… I felt pretty good for a while, and then I'd have these dips, like wow, I feel pretty miserable."
While he lost a significant amount of weight - "I lost, I think, like 60 pounds," he continued. "I didn't even take vitamins… It cleansed everything out of me." - James acknowledged the unsustainable nature of such extreme measures. However, he also clarified that he does not recommend such an extreme weight loss method, noting that he "blew back up" as soon as he stopped fasting. "I'm not saying it's the way to go for everybody, I don't know," he said.
James emphasized the importance of a balanced approach to health and fitness. At other points in the conversation, James talked about his longterm struggles to lose weight, and cited some sounder advice from trainer and weight loss coach Mike Dolce that he continually reminds himself: "You can't outwork a bad diet." His goal now is to find a sustainable and healthy way to stay fit and healthy.
He now focuses on personal progress rather than comparisons. "Just recently I've stopped comparing myself to other people and trying to just say 'get better than yourself yesterday.' That concept for me works," he said. "You don't need a lot of stuff, but you need something to engage yourself every day. There's got to be a bridge between the [David] Goggins way and the people who do nothing… If you can get into that groove, you do feel better."
James Coco: From Stage to Diet Book
James Emil Coco (March 21, 1930 - February 25, 1987) was an American stage and screen actor. He was the recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a Drama Desk Award, a Cable ACE Award and three Obie Awards, as well as nominations for a Tony Award, an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. James began acting straight out of high school. He received his acting training at HB Studio in New York City. As an overweight and prematurely balding adult, he found himself relegated to character roles. Coco's first modern collaboration with playwright Terrence McNally was a 1968 Off-Broadway double-bill of the one-act plays Sweet Eros and Witness, followed by Here's Where I Belong, a disastrous Broadway musical adaptation of East of Eden that closed on opening night. They had far greater success with their next project, Next, a two-character play with Elaine Shore, which ran for more than 700 performances and won Coco the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance. Coco also achieved success with Neil Simon, who wrote The Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1969) specifically for him. It earned him a Tony Award nomination as Best Actor in a Play.
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Coco, a veteran of many failed diets, was the author of the bestselling book The James Coco Diet, released on February 1, 1983, which documented his successful experience of the Structure House Weight Loss Plan, developed by Gerard Musante. Coco's additional film credits include Ensign Pulver (1964), The Patty Duke Show (1965). End of the Road (1970), The Strawberry Statement (1970), Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970), A New Leaf (1971), Such Good Friends (1971), Man of La Mancha (1972), The Wild Party (1975), Charleston (1977), Scavenger Hunt (1979), Wholly Moses! On television, Coco starred on two unsuccessful 1970s series, Calucci's Department and The Dumplings, and made guest appearances on many series, including ABC Stage 67, NBC Children's Theater, The Edge of Night, Marcus Welby, M.D., Trapper John, M.D., Medical Center, Maude, Fantasy Island, Alice, The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Murder, She Wrote, The Muppet Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Love Boat, $weepstake$, and St. Elsewhere, for which he won an Emmy Award. One of his later television assignments was a recurring role as Nick Milano on the sitcom Who's the Boss?. Coco died exactly one day after what was his final appearance on Who's the Boss? St. Coco was gay. Coco died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Manhattan, on February 25, 1987, at age 56 after suffering a heart attack at his Greenwich Village home. He is buried in St.