Dear PropellerHeads: I am an avid weightlifter and CrossFitter but I also travel and need some tips on apps to use when I can't get to my gym. Any suggestions?

A: You totally came to the right place. I really maxed out my quads today (those are the leg thingies, right?) and I am looking forward to burning my delts tomorrow.

Seriously, I get your dilemma. We all work out differently (or not at all) and the market is flooded with every type of health, workout, and lifestyle app, and sometimes you want something a little more bare-bones to get the job done.

Let's talk weightlifting apps. If you are not looking to run, walk, or jazzercise, start with Gym Buddy (bit.ly/1utQ9xS). If you care how your apps look, this one is not for you, but it's super easy to use, can keep up with multiple lifting regimens, and has built-in rest timers.

If simple is where you want to land, Gym Hero (gymhero.me) could be your match. It's really just a nice digital diary/notebook that backs up to the web, but if you are already a structured lifter and don't need the instruction or frills, this is a clean way to track your workouts.

Or point your browser to ExRx.net (bit.ly/11Mprd9) which has a number of high-quality resources for meatheads interested in understanding the science of the barbell. My favorite features include novice routines, or "programming," lean mass calculators, strength standards for all your power and "oly" lifts, and detailed descriptions and animations of each movement when coach isn't next to you reminding you to use those hips during that deadlift.

If you want to spend few bucks and need more from your app, check out Pumping Weight (pumpingweight.com). It's attractive, has tons of features, and does a great job of charting your progress. There's a learning curve with this product, so spend 10 minutes getting to know what you're working with before you give it a go at the gym.

So let's talk CrossFit, because you mentioned it, and since you mentioned it I know it's really all you want to talk about. Once you drink the CrossFit Kool-Aid, there's no going back. But as I suspect you have found, the CrossFit community is so cultish because its followers shout from the rooftops their results, community, and complete lifestyle overhaul as it relates to fitness. What I tend to shout about is how all of the lingo sounds more suggestive than fitness related; see WODs, clean and jerk, box, snatch, and thruster.

So what CrossFit enthusiasts really need are good timers, connection to CrossFit affiliates, a source for instruction, and simplicity of use that mirrors the bare-bones approach to fitness.

Take a look at myWOD (bit.ly/1pddx70), WODzilla (wodzillaapp.com), and PocketWOD (pocketwod.com). All have the ability to track and create your WODs (Workout of the Day), and you can connect through social media on myWOD if that's your bag, or connect to your gym's WOD through their RSS feed with WODzilla should you miss a day at the gym.

If you get confused by all the lady names and what they really mean (see "Fran" and "Cindy," then see "I Barfed after Fran and Cindy") you can check out XFit PR (xfit-pr.com). This has the descriptions of all the named workouts and demos to get you started. Get a little fancier with Beyond the Whiteboard (beyondthewhiteboard.com), which boasts worldwide research of numerous WODs to help you track your progress and set goals according to fitness level and what type of athlete you are. It has instructional videos and all the bells and whistles you could imagine. It's also going to set you back $5 a month, or $50 a year. Fancy.

Lastly, the beauty of many weightlifting and CrossFit programs is that you don't need complicated equipment to get the job done. That being said, if you spend a lot of time on the road, it becomes pretty inconvenient to lug your dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells on each trip. Check out CF Finder (bit.ly/11MmRnn), which will help you find a CrossFit gym nearby, wherever you might be.

Good news ... my hammies loosened up after hitting a max tall snatch last week and I got through Helen without passing out. I don't know what I just said, but can you spot me bro?

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. Email them to questions@askthepropellerheads.com