Social media fitness sites offer support, motivation

Editor’s note: This story originally was published March 12, 2014 in the Chicago Sun-Times.

When social media and fitness intersect, what comes to mind?

If it’s #thinspiration shots of models on Pinterest and in-your-face gym mirror selfies posted by bodybuilders, you wouldn’t be totally wrong.

Often, those images of perfection leave people feeling inadequate and discourage them from hitting the gym.

But a growing number of entrepreneurs are figuring out how to tap into social media to ignite motivation. As exercise has become more social — think mud runs with friends, or “sweatworking” with business contacts — many push themselves harder because their peers hold them to it.

Read the story.