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Dawn Alison

Months of weighing every meal down to the ounce, eating at exact times, putting in hours at the gym every day – all leading up to just a few minutes on stage this weekend at the Canadian Bodybuilding Federation National Championships.

More than 150 athletes are expected to descend on Edmonton, all of them having spent at least one full year training for the show, says promoter John Dirks. "These people do not go into this unprepared," he says.

We spoke to six people vying for titles this year, to get a glimpse beyond the biceps and into the life of competitive bodybuilding.

Mark Richman

Mr. Richman, 34, from Durham Region, just east of Toronto, will be competing in the heavyweight class, a category he won in 2009.

Day job: Public school teacher.

What it feels like to compete: Physically, you look phenomenal. But energy-wise, when you step on stage you're very depleted. You have to cut your water so we can show the judges how conditioned and ripped we are. It's not necessarily a healthy process. But it's only 24 hours before competition. Trying to function without water is difficult. You're basically running on adrenalin. You have to be mentally tough.

Post-competition indulgence: Pizza and a diet Pepsi. And I have a sweet tooth, so I'll probably get a piece of cake.

Dakota Wilcox

A 17-year-old from St. Catharines, Ont., Mr. Wilcox will be competing for the first time this year, in the junior heavyweight category.

Day job: A recent high school graduate, Mr. Wilcox works at a restaurant as a busboy.

On dedication: I'm in the gym two to three times a day. It's usually about four hours total. It's hard to put all the time in that it requires. And the diet requires a lot of dedication. I eat six times a day – about every three hours starting at 7 a.m. Every meal is carefully weighed right to the ounce, even my vegetables. And there's not much going out at night. I told my girlfriend, "I don't really have a life as of right now."

Post-competition indulgence: I'm just craving not having a specific amount of food. I can sit down and have a 20-ounce steak if I want one.

Ron Partlow

Edmonton's "Big" Ron Partlow, 36, has finished second at the nationals six times. Competing in the super heavyweight class, he's hoping to finally take first overall this year and earn his pro card, which would allow him to compete for prize money.

Day job: Training and nutritional consultant.

On making money as a bodybuilder: Most people don't ever make a dollar from it. I'm very lucky. And I'm in a good spot because I already have a sponsor. It's written into my contract that if I turn pro I automatically go to a certain salary, so it would change my income if I turned pro. But I don't ever think of the money as motivation. You just want to win, to be at your very best. There's nothing like being the last guy standing at a bodybuilding competition.

Post-competition indulgence: A nice big gourmet restaurant burger with a big plate of fries. And if I have some lactate enzymes on hand, a milkshake – after dieting for so many months, our bodies don't produce any lactates, so if we have a milkshake we just feel like dying.

Dawn Alison

Now 47, this is Ms. Alison's 20th year in competitive bodybuilding. She lives in Surrey, B.C., and will be competing in the grand masters category.

Day job: Personal trainer.

On rivalries: There are a lot, but I'm friends with quite a few competitors. There are a lot of girls that I competed with at nationals who now have their pro cards and I'm still here in the amateurs, but they're in my corner, messaging me to ask how my prep is going. There's cattiness, but I think that's in any sport. People try to psych you out.

Post-competition indulgence: Fruit. I always miss fruit.

Julie Lockhart

A 36-year-old from Guelph, Ont., Ms. Lockhart began training after the birth of her third child. She will be competing in the physique category.

Day job: Customer service representative at a bank.

On show-womanship: In the category I'm in, I have to do not only the mandatory five poses, I also have to do quarter turns to showcase your body and then a minute routine to music. You have to have poise and stage presence. I've been working with two friends who are choreographers for nationals this year. There's a lot of showmanship involved.

Post-competition indulgence: I'm probably not going to go off my diet. My biggest indulgence might be French toast.

Carmen Tocheniuk

Ms. Tocheniuk, 31, won the lightweight category in 2005 and last year won as a middleweight competitor. This year, she will be competing in the physique category.

Day job: Co-owner of KarmaLife, an Edmonton-based health and wellness company.

On relationships: I have tried dating bodybuilders and people who barely work out. But I find you can't date someone who has no idea about the bodybuilding industry. You need to have a support network. Your other half has to know what you're going through – the lifestyles are so different. A lot of guys think it's selfish. They don't understand the diet. And it doesn't go over so well when you're boyfriend is like, "Come to bed" and you're like, "Sorry, I've got to go downstairs and do an hour of cardio."

Post-competition indulgence: I'm just craving cereal. There's this cereal I keep seeing in the grocery store called Krave and that's all I want right now.

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