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At what point do you retire?

Fast Twitch Fiber

Fast Twitch Fiber

New member
I'm 31 and have been competing since I was 16. My body is starting to feel the effects of it. I have knee problems, rotator cuff problems, low back problems and many other nagging injuries. My squat workout this week hurt so bad I couldn't take it. My knees make a grinding sound and they pop when I walk down stairs. It hurts when I squat down even without any weight. At what point does one say enough and just quit? I'm getting to the point that powerlifting is no longer enjoyable. I've always liked lifting heavy and being stronger than guys that were a lot bigger than me but I'm just not sure it's worth the pain any longer. Are there any retired plifters here?
 
I think if it's to the point that you don't enjoy it anymore, it's time to stop....have you looked into any kind of therapy or treatment?
 
I'm trying glucosamine right now. I've heard it's good for your joints. I'm not sure if it will work. I've been considering a lengthy layoff. Maybe that will let my body heal. My problem with layoffs is that I get depressed mentally.
 
Well, then just do something different for a while...don't stop lifting completely, just change your split around, and do things that don't hurt.

Glucosamine's a good idea, as is a trip to the chiropractor, if you haven't been already.
 
maybe try a more relaxed routine for a few months rather than laying off. Even though you're obviously not a bodybuilder, you could do a cycle or 2 of HST since it's high reps and submaximal weight most of the time, with 3 relatively short workouts a week.

And as the Tick said, you should definately put more effort into fixing your aches.

Good luck!
 
fast twitch, i am ten years older than you and injury free. i don't think it is your age...maybe you just need a good rest. it will not be the end of the world if you take some time off from thte gym and let your body repair itself. we are all looking for the miracle cure but time and rest should do wonders for you.
 
I have heard good things about glucosamine... also yes- you should spend more time learning about things you can do for maximum recovery from those accumulating aches and pains....

as for retirement - it is time to retire when they put your cold dead body into the ground....

for real tho - there is this guy one of my training buddies knows of who squats in the neighborhood of 700... at an age of about 70 years old...
 
Thats a personal choice. If you no longer enjoy it or if you feel its cutting into your quality of life- then don't compete anymore. You can still lift weights, but with less motivation you might find yourself much more relaxed and in turn, enjoy it more.
Take a few weeks off- it won't hurt your strength in the long run and it will give you time to recover and decide.
 
w8lifterchick said:
Thats a personal choice. If you no longer enjoy it or if you feel its cutting into your quality of life- then don't compete anymore. You can still lift weights, but with less motivation you might find yourself much more relaxed and in turn, enjoy it more.
Take a few weeks off- it won't hurt your strength in the long run and it will give you time to recover and decide.
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Good point about enjoying it more if you arent competing, but lifting for the sake of just lifting.
 
pee wee said:
Good point about enjoying it more if you arent competing, but lifting for the sake of just lifting.
Click to expand...

Every week I used to get frustrated with my progress with squats. My back would hurt and whenever i made progress, something would slow me back down to the beginning very easily again. Due to some spinal injuries, I just gave up and realized i'm never going to compete with them- at my best they were still pretty pitiful (under 300). Now, i just squat for the strength and benefits to my other lifts. I don't care if i break 200 again, but now nomatter what i do on squat day, i'm ok with it.

________________________________
http://www.weightliftingdiscussion.com
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I'm not a power lifter, but I know where you're coming from. I just went through two years of hell with my shoulder. It took two surgeries to finally get it right. The worst part besides the pain, was going to the gym and only being able to do the rehab. I was ready to through in the towel, but a funny thing happened, that time off re-energized me. I am now more focussed and excited about my training than I have been in years. A friend of mine even got me involved in some strongman type training, and it's been a blast!! If it's not fun, take some time off or try a different way of training.
 
Fast Twitch Fiber said:
I'm 31 and have been competing since I was 16. My body is starting to feel the effects of it. I have knee problems, rotator cuff problems, low back problems and many other nagging injuries. My squat workout this week hurt so bad I couldn't take it. My knees make a grinding sound and they pop when I walk down stairs. It hurts when I squat down even without any weight. At what point does one say enough and just quit? I'm getting to the point that powerlifting is no longer enjoyable. I've always liked lifting heavy and being stronger than guys that were a lot bigger than me but I'm just not sure it's worth the pain any longer. Are there any retired plifters here?
Click to expand...

I know dudes that have lifted over 30 years and they're still going strong. I competed 10 years and then that was it. No more.
 
Some good news, since my knees were hurting, another plifter at the gym recommended box squats. I set up a 12" box and damn, he was right. My knees felt so much better. By the time I was finished with box squats my knees were warmed enough to hit the leg press with minimal pain. The poundage wasn't heavy but it felt good and I got a good pump.
 
Fast Twitch Fiber said:
Some good news, since my knees were hurting, another plifter at the gym recommended box squats. I set up a 12" box and damn, he was right. My knees felt so much better. By the time I was finished with box squats my knees were warmed enough to hit the leg press with minimal pain. The poundage wasn't heavy but it felt good and I got a good pump.
Click to expand...

WRAP YOUR KNEES if they are bothering you. both of them. you can get some good ones at www.crainsmuscleworld.com
there's a video on the site that shows how to wrap them. Let me know if you can't find it.
 
Powerlifters retire when they DIE!!

But really just take it easy and indded wrap your knees, stretch properly, drink plenty of water/sports drink while working out, do not work to failure, and make sure you have spotters when needed

JIMM
 
w8lifterchick said:
yes i do. I took over crain's site after allen. I could be mistaken, but allen might have been vince anello's webmaster before i was too. seems like a good webmaster.
g

http://www.weightliftingdiscussion.com
Click to expand...
Let me tell you a little bit about myself, and you decide if you need to retire. First of all, if you enjoy it, and still have the pasion, by all means, keep doing it! if not, trust me, you will be miserable! I started powerlifting at the age of 19, kept going strong until I was 29, competing in the senior nationals twice, totaling over 2000 numerous times, and this was in the mid eighties, to the early 90's with the old blast shirts, and marathon suits(a cotton blend suit) I started bodybuilding due to no powerlifters being around and the gym changed owners, and i couldnt train with chalk etc...I competed at bodybuilding for the next 5 years, from 29 until I was about 34. Ryan Kenelly then moved to florida, and we found a gym in Ft Myers Florida, and started training there. I did bench meets since then, and recently starting training for 3 lift meets, and even did some strongman stuff. Im now 38, will be 39 next month. Now let me tell you the list of injuries I have had! Tore my pec twice, both partial tears, completely ruptured patella tendon, had to get it reattached, torn bicep, severely bruised lung, had to get coagulated blood sucked out, 2 torn quads, and many, many more strains, etc...and Im still going strong! The key is to do a meet or two, then change your training. Ill go with-out any gear, and do reps of 10-12. allways taking 2 full weeks off after a meet. Dont be scared to lay-off, it keeps me humgry to come back!
 
Love it or Leave it!

You're still only 31! If your body feels like this now, imagine at 50 with another 5 or more years of powerlifting.
 
genarr3 said:
Take a break. 31 isn't the end. I'm 40 and just did a bench meet this past October and did very well.
Click to expand...

didn't you win best lifter?
guess who won best female lifter at the last bench meet at the same place?
i'll give you a hint: Me.
and i'm 37, so 31 is NOT old.
 
w8lifterchick said:
didn't you win best lifter?
guess who won best female lifter at the last bench meet at the same place?
i'll give you a hint: Me.
and i'm 37, so 31 is NOT old.
Click to expand...
I didn't want to brag.

Congrats. You were at the one in October? There were alot of Elite members there, you should have introduced yourself.
 
genarr3 said:
I didn't want to brag.

Congrats. You were at the one in October? There were alot of Elite members there, you should have introduced yourself.
Click to expand...

yes, i was there, and again at the next one they had.
i was right behind you at the one in october. there were only 3 women competing there that time and we pretty much all stood together.- i didn't know who you were.
I was there with a girlfriend. I have long red curly hair (one of the other women competing had red hair too- she was with a guy and a kid though) and the other woman benched like 90 lbs (in my weightclass and had THICK glasses. and really bad breath).
 
w8lifterchick said:
yes, i was there, and again at the next one they had.
i was right behind you at the one in october. there were only 3 women competing there that time and we pretty much all stood together.- i didn't know who you were.
I was there with a girlfriend. I have long red curly hair (one of the other women competing had red hair too- she was with a guy and a kid though) and the other woman benched like 90 lbs (in my weightclass and had THICK glasses. and really bad breath).
Click to expand...
Next time there is one let me know. I got a letter for the last one but threw it out, my right shoulder is shot and I can't flat bench for awhile. I don't think they'll notify me since I didn't go to the last one. I don't want to sound like one of those guys that thinks they know more then the ladies that lift, I know this not to be true. But if you compete again and want some tips, I'd be more then happy to help out a fellow Elite member.

Were you the girl that asked if they allowed bench shirts?

BBU - I did 420 raw at 225. I know there's lots of peeps that can do more, but that day I came out ahead. There's video on the training forum. Like I've been saying on this forum for years, it's all about who shows up and how you plan your lifts. You don't even have to be the strongest guy to win, lifters overestimate their lifts all the time and bomb out. There was a guy there that should have beat me that day but opened too high bombed out. I might have done alittle more but mathematically that's the lift I needed to win.
 
Last edited:
genarr3 said:
Next time there is one let me know. I got a letter for the last one but threw it out, my right shoulder is shot and I can't flat bench for awhile. I don't think they'll notify me since I didn't go to the last one. I don't want to sound like one of those guys that thinks they know more then the ladies that lift, I know this not to be true. But if you compete again and want some tips, I'd be more then happy to help out a fellow Elite member.

Were you the girl that asked if they allowed bench shirts?.
Click to expand...

Yes, that was me.
i'm sure they'll notify me again- the little guy that ran it and that woman that assisted him remembered my name and said they are having another one in... november i think.
thanks for the offer of help- i don't have any help in person, but i have a few on line helpers with my routine. I got 165 at the last meet and by november i'd like to hit 170 or 175 (raw of course).
there is a meet near you in october- a full meet in middle village i think. I might enter, but i could only bench and i'd need help getting my shirt on (inzer poly, open back). I'd like to get over 200 at that one.
 
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