well 10 deadlifts at 400lbs is 4,000lbs of volume.
10 squats at say 300lbs is 3,000lbs of volume (my deadlift was always 100+lbs higher than my squat.)
it sorta makes sense then that the DL volume even if it felt great at the time, will wreck the body. I like paying attention to my hormonal response (which is all based upon feel since I don't actually test my hormones) and I know when I'm at peak. I've always been a natural lifter aside from normal supplements from the drug store so I try to pay attention to my recovery and where my testosterone "seems" to be based upon how I feel. I don't think I need to have my T levels checked to tell me when I'm feeling like an aggressive, primal man who's ready to hunt, lift and breed. I also know when I'm feeling like crap and don't want to do any of those things so I would say that the thing I try to do the most in the gym and life is foster strong hormonal balance if that makes sense.
as far as being jacked at 178... thanks man, I'm definitely getting there again. Abs are starting to pop nicely! when I was competing in xfit and had my nutrition dialed, I was absolutely paper thin skin shredded. the leanest I had been in my whole life and it felt awesome. I think my lightest in that period of time was around 172lbs (but my legs were like 1-2" bigger in circumference!)
doing my best... I always knew that when I reached my 40s and 50s I wanted that power lifter dad look. Some dads rock the dadbod, and some of them have those thick shoulders, arms and pecks. even if they have a big ol beer belly they still look like they've lifed their whole life... know what i mean? I'm ok with getting softer in the gut but I'm not going to watch my arms shrivel up till my shirt fits them like a dress lol