Nelson Montana said:You can conclude I didn't know what I was doing, but in truth I knew quite a bit. I believe what my "before" pics show is just how much of a hardgainer I was. So , you're wrong.
No, at the time of your before pics you didn't know diddly. And by your own words:
"The start of a new approach. (Please forgive the underwear.) At this point, many of the "experts" with whom I'd been in contact (trainers, doctors, coaches, authors, athletes, etc.) informed me that at the age of 38, muscle growth of any consequence is damn near impossible, even for someone with better than average genetics, no less someone who could never put on muscle. Testosterone levels drop, Growth Hormone levels are lower. The metabolism gets sluggish and fat is more readily stored. Bones, tendons and ligaments are more brittle which result in a far greater chance for injury. The recuperation process is slower and longer. It all sucks. Still, I concluded that the experts had it wrong. I innately came to conclusions which were in direct opposition to what we've all been told, starting with diet. I had a few crazy theories about training rummaging through my head as well so I decided to ignore the advice of the experts and follow what my instincts were telling me. What did I have to lose?"
In your own words, you didn't know what worked up until age 38. Then you decided to TRY something else. Good for you, but until you proved it worked for you, you didn't know even that.
So, you're wrong.