should I switch to or try HST?

On a recommendation from an earlier thread, I had a look at the hypertrophy-specific web page, without going in to the products, just read the page on routines. I have been weighlifting for a couple of months now, mostly bench presses and starting out with about as much weight as I could do for 15-20 reps and doing enough sets till I got to about 60-70 reps. I have recently switched to as much weight as I can do for about 7-10 reps (125 lbs) and am doing 3 or 4 sets of 8,6,5,4 etc.

I am starting to see some results, not to noticeable, but my t-shirt arms are getting a bit tighter. I was thinking of trying the HST method for a while, the way I understand it I would drop my weights about 30 lbs and do more reps with the lighter weights at first, adding 5 lbs every workout and lessening reps, till I get back to my max weigh and 10 reps or less for 3 sets, then working my way back down. the whole idea behind it seems that I will get faster and more growth this way, so I am tempted.

I am 46, my daily calorie intake is usually around maintenance, and my protein portion is about 1 - 1.8 g per lb. I was thinking about increasing my intake but my paunch is still there and I want to get rid of it before I do that.

interested in hearing from others who may have tried or are trying the HST method

No, HST works like this:

Figure out the maximum weight you can use to do 15 reps of <exercise> (you can cheat and use rep max calculators, but, I've found the formula to be kind of wonky: If I put in my 20-rep squat weight, I get a 5-rep max that's much higher than I can handle.)

You'll do this exercise either 3 times or 6 times over a two week period (depending upon if you do it every workout, or if you alternate it with another exercise and do it every other workout).

Either way, you should start with 80% of your maximum (or subtract 5 lbs per workout, or 10 lbs if it's a high weight, or higher. Whatever makes sense). You'll do this weight on your first workout. Then, on your next workout, you'll add weight back in, so that when you get to your third (or sixth, if you do it every workout), you're working your maximum.

So, let's say that the maximum you can bench press is 100x15, 125x10, and 150x5 (because they're nice round numbers) and you're going to do the bench press every workout (6 times in 2 weeks). Your weights might look like this:

Week 1, Mon: 75x15 Week 1, Wed: 80x15 Week 1, Fri: 85x15 Week 2, Mon: 90x15 Week 2, Wed: 95x15 Week 2, Fri: 100x15 Week 3, Mon: 100x10 Week 3, Wed: 105x10 Week 3, Fri: 110x10 Week 4, Mon: 115x10 Week 4, Wed: 120x10 Week 4, Fri: 125x10 Week 5, Mon: 125x5 Week 5, Wed: 130x5 Week 5, Fri: 135x5 Week 6, Mon: 140x5 Week 6, Wed: 145x5 Week 6, Fri: 150x5 Week 7: Break Then, find new 5, 10, and 15 lb maximums, and start over.

Yes, in the beginning of any two week cycle, the weights should feel