I rely, generally speaking, on science.
One individual's genetic make-up makes it near impossible to apply their methods to me and hope for similar results. They may in fact be an outlier, and outliers are of no use to the average person.
I use average results, over large populations, to extrapolate what my results will be.
For example, on average, people with post-secondary education make $X,XXX more than those who only have high school education. I know high school educated friends who make far more than I do. To have emulated their methods hoping for their results may have proven disastrous for me.
So instead, I rely on the law of averages over large populations. I went and got post-secondary education because if I'm the average guy, then on average, I should expect average results. And lets face it, we're all pretty average, even though society and our moms keep telling us we're all very, very special unique butterflies.
So, when it comes to how I eat, I follow the general average results that average people can expect with the average diet. Nothing special. I'm probably quite average.
When it comes to response to supplements, I generally tend to assume I'm average, and look to what the average results are with supplements. And I expect I'll be around there.
In fact, I may or may not be an outlier. But I can't assume I will be. But I must assume that a single person, does not a statistically significant average result make.
I like to idolize those who achieve the results I desire. But I would never fool myself into believing that doing what they do will work in any way, shape, or form for me. I err on the side of caution; what are the majority of bodybuilders doing, most of the time, and how to do most of them look? I will then do what most of them do, most of the time, and expect to look like most of them do.
Chances are I'm not going to find any sort of secret on my own. Or by watching another person do it.
But that's just my opinion. And I'm one guy. So you'd be foolhardy to base your approach on what one man said, if you believe anything I've written above. How ironic...