Let's face it, when it comes to hyping a product, the bodybuilding supplement industry would be hard to beat. Incredible claims of huge, steroid like, muscle growth and strength are commonplace and it seems that every new product reaches a new high on the "Hype-Meter".

Having been involved in bodybuilding for over 20 years, I think I can offer at least some input and guidance on what a novice bodybuilder can expect when it comes to purchasing supplements with their hard earned money.

One of the questions I hear more than any other from young bodybuilders looking to get huge all the way to stay at home moms looking to lose a little weight is, "Does this stuff really work"? My reply is always the same, "What do you mean by, 'does it work'"? The reason I give this reply is that most people seem to expect some sort of magic bullet when it comes to supplements. The reality is that, yes, many of these supplements do "work" but only when they are implemented in a complete fitness program.

A perfect example would be fat burners. The majority of fat burners that are currently on the market contain 3 or 4 herbal ingredients that are designed to increase your metabolism and/or decrease the appetite. Most people who purchase these products have a genuine desire to lose weight. And most of them will also try to incorporate a fat burner into their weight loss program that also includes proper nutrition and exercise. There are however some people who think that they will "melt away pounds" by simply taking the supplement and not doing any work on their own. The "magic bullet" mentality only leads to frustration when the product in question doesn't "work" for them.

When it comes to the niche market of bodybuilding supplements however, nothing can quite come close to the hype. It's important to keep in mind that the manufacturers of these supplements are paying professional bodybuilders to endorse their products. When a young man (or boy) sees a picture of a professional bodybuilder holding up a can or jar of a particular product, the image of that huge athlete is a very powerful advertising tool. Combine that with the over-the-top ad copy and you can see why many people are skeptical of these products. It would seem that rather than asking "Do they work?", the real question should be, "Will I look like that if I take this?"

The hard, cold answer to that question would be a resounding, "No". The reality is that all professional bodybuilders lead an extreme lifestyle that involves training, eating, sleeping and most importantly, huge amounts of anabolic steroids, growth hormone and other drugs to get the degree of muscle they have. They did not get that muscular simply by using bodybuilding supplements.

The good news however is that bodybuilding supplements can indeed help you in your training. Once again, assuming that your workouts are productive, your diet is one of good nutrition and you are allowing your body to recover by getting proper sleep, there are many supplements that are fantastic to help you increase your muscle mass, lose weight, increase pumps and gain strength.

Creatine, NO(Nitric Oxide) boosters, testosterone boosters, weight gainers and more are all excellent choices to help you reach your goals. Just remember, there are no magic pills that will turn you into a giant bodybuilder overnight but if you are committed to bodybuilding and ask me "Do bodybuilding supplements work?", I'd definitely say, "Yes!"