No Magic Pill/Hard Work/Competitors?

For those who compete I would love to hear your experiences with contest prep. For me it is ok at first, I love the scheduled meal plan, I love knowing how much all my meals have to weigh without having to look at my sheet, I even love when I GET to start doing cardio. Then comes the hell. I often question later in the prep, why the hell I am doing this to myself. I know why, I love to be onstage but it doesn't always penetrate my pea brain in the midst of some precontest craziness. People in general are always looking for the easy way to do something, I am not immune to that myself. However when preparing for a show, it is perfect nutrition,proper training, proper cardio, proper water intake, proper sleep, and of course proper supplementation that will get me where I need to be. If I fail in any of those areas I am screwed. I cannot take anything and sit on my ass and look like Iris, I know she sure as hell doesn't. It is hard work plain and simple and imo sometimes just absolutely agonizing at least for me. How do you all that compete feel about your precontest prep? Would be kinda interesting to see some at home footage of some of ya doing what you gotta do to make your meals, schedule training, work and omg shower if you actually have the energy. Just a thought. Don't think a lot of people really know how much time it takes everyday to do what you gotta do to compete.

My favorite part of prep is right in the middle. Like 9 weeks out. I'm pretty damn lean, but still full and freaky looking.
As far as video of my day .... LOL.... people would be like "what the fuck is wrong with this guy". My OCD, split personality, and just general attitude are definately not the norm!!

I personally love prep. Its better than offseason, for me. Im more scheduled, on my eating doing cardio, ect.

I agree about the prep and being so scheduled with the eating and knowing what to eat without thinking. I get a bit nuts 4 weeks out, if my hood is up and head down at the gym, don't even talk to me! I started this thread when I was kinda hot about reading something else on here, so if it sounded kinda negative that is why. But in truth I do have a hard time with the diet once I am in a couple months, it is just a mind fuck for me. I watch the food network (like a dummy) but I cannot turn it off, it is like porn for me