With three weeks of 2012 behind us, some people may need a little boost to achieve their health and fitness goals for the new year. Fitness expert Libby Norris reveals these online tools that can do the job and help anyone achieve success.

Want to get fit? There's an app for that!

It may sound cliché, but online fitness tools and apps could significantly increase your chances of success with your health and fitness resolutions and goals. Tech tools can help you address three of the most common barriers that people face with their fitness programs -- time, information and accountability.

Time

Have you ever wandered around a gym not quite sure where to begin? Apps and web tools can offer exercises for every body part using every piece of equipment available, including your own body weight. Some apps are like having a personal trainer in your pocket, combining exercises into specific programs based on your goals and the equipment you have available including reps, sets and rest time.

Information

This is the key to getting the most from your workout effort and time. Many tools offer the information that you might get working with a trainer, including videos with proper technique, pre- and post-nutrition and tips for balancing your workout and adding variety to push past plateaus.

Accountability

Much of the success of working with a trainer is simply being accountable to someone with your diet and exercise. Tracking tools are a great feature because you see the immediate impact of your food and fitness choices. You can identify where you might be going wrong and how to tweak your program. You can also use it a motivational tool on your own or share with a community or group.

Tips for making the most of tech tools for fitness

In just a few short years, there has been a huge influx of apps and web tools for both fitness and food offered for free or with monthly subscriptions. So much choice can often end up creating more confusion than clarity for consumers. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right fit:

• Start with a freebie first. Before you make any major investment, you can test tech tools to see if they do help you given your time, personality and approach with learning.
• Read through blog comments. This exercise will help you find people with similar needs and preferences which will be a good indication for fit and function.
• Check the fine print. There are lots of apps and sites that offer teasers for free, but charge for more specific programs or entry into additional features. These additional fees can add up!
• Beware of bulk mail. Always make sure you check preferences. Otherwise, you can be inundated with emails and newsletters after signing onto these sites.

Get started!

We've sifted through numerous apps and sites and have outlined a sampling in the following four categories to help you get started.

Fitness Programs

• Workout Trainer Shakerciser -- free
• Fleetly -- free
• micoach -- free
• M-Train -- free
• iMapMyFitness -- free
• iPump and Fitness builder -- $9.99
• Men's Health Workouts -- $1.99
• imuscle and iFitness -- $1.99
• FitnessBuilder.com -- $29.99 + monthly subscription
• Exersciz.com -- free information, monthly subscription for program

Yoga/Pilates

• Pilates Interactive -- free
• Pocket Yoga -- free
• iPump Pilates -- $1.99
• ipump Office Stretch -- $0.99
• Yoga stretch -- $1.99
• All in one yoga -- $1.99-$3.99
• Authentic Yoga with Deepak Chopra -- $2.99
• MyYogaOnline -- $69.00-$89.00 annual subscription

Running/Walking

• Cardio Trainer -- free
• Personal Running Trainer -- free
• iMapMyWALK -- free
• iTreadmill -- $1.99
• C25K (Couch to 5K) -- $2.99
• BeatBurn -- treadmill/outdoor workout - $3.99
• Jeff Galloway's Ultimate 5K -- $3.99
• Run Keeper -- $9.99

All in one (diet and fitness)

• SparkPeople.com -- free
• Fitday.com -- free
• WebMD -- free
• Daily Burn -- starts free with lots of paid program options
• Jillian Michaels -- free to monthly subscription
• Livestrong.com Calorie Counter -- $0.99
• Tap & Track Calorie, Weight & Exercise Tracker -- $3.99

But wait…there's more!

• To cover more apps and online tools, we'll be posting weekly features and reviews. Whether you're just starting out or trying to push past a plateau, our focus is to motivate you to get moving and to help optimize your time and results.

For more information, plus discount codes to get started on featured fitness tools, visit Libby Norris on her website.