If you're like most bodybuilding enthusiasts, your definition of the best muscle supplements would be those that build muscles the quickest way.

The next issue would be, which would you go for, natural or synthetic? That's not so hard to answer. You'd not want to take something that somebody concocted in some laboratory, no matter how many celebrity endorsers put their name behind it.

Bodybuilders know that protein is vital for building muscle. But even if you take nothing but protein, you may not gain muscle if your daily total calorie intake doesn't exceed your daily calorie budget. You also risk suffering from malnutrition.

To gain muscle mass, your balanced diet should provide about 500 surplus calories than your maintenance level. Remember the important words, balanced diet.

Many bodybuilders assert that whey protein is among the top sources of supplementary protein. When you pick your supplement, make sure it's got a healthy dose of whey protein.

Creatine is another substance that has the attention of body building fans. It helps keep your body's energy level up and deal wth fatigue, enabling you to go farther during workouts.

Even though creatine is being produced in your body, taking a supplement that contains creatine will certainly catalyze the natural processes related to muscle building.

Glutamine is yet another recommended ingredient for muscle supplements. It aids the transport of muscle-building nutrients to the fibers to build bulk and improve tone.

It's these three that form the core of your supplement: Protein, creatine and glutamine. Go for natural sources; disregard anything that doesn't explicitly say natural.

Steroids and hormones that add bulk, such as testosterone, should be left out of the picture with their potential side-effects. Your body under intense workout will produce muscle building testosterone naturally anyway. It's the better part of wisdom to stay safe, stick with natural, and avoid synthetic testosterone or other hormones.

Nitric oxide, another controversial substance, is believed to help dilate blood vessels and transport more blood and nutrients to the muscles. Some people take it as a supplement to feel pumped without going through the workout. There's a word for it, cheating. Nitric oxide is a no-no. Just say no.

Make your informed decision based on personal research. Be skeptical and careful about much of those big claims in the magazines. Instant success can't be earned without putting in some hard work. You don't want to blow away good money in your quest for the best muscle supplements.

Most people find themselves in the kind of situation where they need to lose weight and gain muscles. Is that you? Well, consider these tips:

1. Work out regularly using an overall conditioning program designed to lose fat and build muscles uniformly.

2. Keep track of those calories. It's not all about restricting you food intake but more about gaining muscle mass without allowing fat build-up.

3. Don't fall for false expectations. Supplements that are effective for Tom or Marie may not produce the same results for you.

4. Now, for one big word: Perseverance. If you've made good choices, then keep on the hard work and be patient, because you'll see that you have picked your best.