This post is actually makes some very good points. I've been hitting pretty hard for 30 years now. As you age, all those years of intense/heavy training eventually catches up with you. It's the mileage, plus all the wear and tear.
Putting up big numbers becomes less important... even impossible due to injuries, declining hormone levels, lack of energy, etc... My main goal now is to workout as intensely as possible without getting hurt.
To the guys under 30 here: Keep on training and keep on living... you'll see.
^^x1000.
I absolutely loved powerlifting. I mean really loved it. Best fun I ever had in the gym. And I still miss it to this day. It made going to the gym seem like it had purpose...like I had a purpose there. It's so concrete - make the weight, or don't. Win, or lose. Nice and black and white...because life is too much grey area.
Can't do it anymore though. I'm so fucked with injuries it's not funny. The only thing that worked - lifting like a boring bodybuilder. Light weights, going for a pump, nice slow controlled reps, stretch and squeeze. Might I add....so f'n boring. Now I'm not hurting anymore, and I can work out 4-5 days a week, which I need to do to stop myself from being a fat-ass. I'd rather train like a pussy than be hurt and not train at all, I guess. That's all I have left. So now I'm the guy I used to laugh at only 7 years ago.
The injuries really started piling on past age 30.
Oh well...I had my fun. Nothing good ever lasts forever.