Supplements: Holy Grail, or Huge Rip Off?

I see a lot of ads for supplements guaranteeing quick muscle gains or weight loss. Isn't it true that everyone has a different metabolism, so everyone responds differently to these products?

It's true that everyone has different lifestyles and eating patterns, but there are still some commonalities. For example, all human beings have blood pressure readings and heart rates. The whole idea behind exercise is that we're either strengthening our heart and lungs through cardiovascular exercise, or we're strengthening our muscles through weight training. There are countless ways to accomplish these goals, but everyone basically has the same basic goals, to get our heart and muscles into the best possible condition.

Losing or gaining weight basically comes down to a simple mathematical equation: “calories in, calories out.” If you eat more calories than you burn, you're going to gain weight. If you burn more calories than you eat, you'll lose weight.

When it comes to supplements, I recommend a careful approach. First make sure that you're eating a balanced diet. A good multivitamin is great insurance. If you're interested in trying a supplement, don't just take the guy at the gym's word for it—do some research first. Get the opinions of a certified trainer, your doctor, and read about the supplement in objective forums (such as WebMD.com or theBody.com) on the internet. If you decide to try a supplement, do it for a limited amount of time to see whether it works for you.