Choosing to live a healthy life can be hard for anyone. We asked Special Olympics athlete Daniel Smrokowski, Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks, and his wife Emma Hendricks to share their motivations and daily routines to make health and fitness a priority in their lives.
Daniel Smrokowski was born three-and-a-third months premature and was diagnosed with learning disabilities and a severe language disorder. While communication was one of Daniel’s big struggles, it was also his passion. He graduated from Roosevelt University with a B.A. in Journalism, and founded Special Chronicles, a nonprofit media platform that produces podcasts, news, and opinion pieces featuring the voices of people with autism and other special needs. Daniel is a Special Olympics athlete, Global Messenger, and board member of Special Olympics Illinois.
Kyle Hendricks is a professional American baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, a Major League Baseball team. His wife Emma is a talented athlete, having competed for Eastern Washington’s cross-country team during her college days. Kyle and Emma Hendricks are also Star Champion Ambassadors for Special Olympics Illinois.
What does your typical fitness routine look like?
Daniel: I love walking or going on bike rides. I compete for Special Olympics Illinois in swimming and basketball, and I need to stay fit throughout the year to stay at the top of my game. I try to be active every day.
Kyle: For my fitness regimen, I usually do 4-6 days a week of different cardio and weight lifting routines. I’ve also incorporated yoga into my routine and typically do that 3-5 days per week. It is very important for me to stay fit year round because it helps prevent injuries. Once I start to fall behind on my fitness routine it becomes more and more difficult to get back into shape.
Emma: My fitness routine consists of walking or jogging 5 times a week. I try to get on my mat and practice yoga 2-3 times a week and when I can, I go to the gym to lift weights.
What’s the best way for someone to motivate themselves to get fit and stay healthy?
Daniel: What has worked for me and what I’d suggest others to try is setting workout reminders on the calendar. It gets easier for me to be fit every day when I get in the habit of putting my health first. Tell your family and friends about your goals so they can support you, too. This has really helped me.
Emma: Some of my best motivation to get fit comes from social media. I follow a number of yogis and runners and they always post routines or running tips and tricks that have worked for them. On days that I don’t feel motivated enough to work out, I at least try to walk to the grocery store or around the block for fresh air I think getting to the gym is often the hardest part of the workout!
What fitness advice would you give to Special Olympics athletes that are training to compete?
Daniel: I look up to Kyle for being our Special Olympics Illinois ambassador and for combining sport and fitness. He motivates me to want to challenge myself to get in better shape so I can do my best when I’m competing and in my daily life. I’m thankful that Kyle understands the importance of our Inclusion Revolution.
Kyle: Some advice that I would give is to always maintain good fitness throughout the year, whether competing or not. Also, eating healthy and drinking a lot of water are extremely important to being able to compete at your best.
Emma: My three tips before a competition are to fuel your body with healthy food like fruits and vegetables, drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and get a good night’s sleep so you are rested for your competition!
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If starting a fitness regimen sounds like something you’d like to do, Special Olympics offers fitness programs that have changed the lives of many athletes. Fit 5 is a guide to achieving fitness and personal best by following the easy to remember goals of exercising five days per week, eating a combination of five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and drinking the equivalent of five bottles of water per day. The guide provides tips and recommendations for achieving these goals and includes a fitness tracker to record progress.
Fit 5 fitness cards demonstrate how to do exercises for endurance, strength and flexibility. They can be incorporated into gym or home workouts. Special Olympics athletes are featured on the cards completing the exercises along with written instructions for proper form. The cards are leveled 1 through 5, with 5 being the most challenging, making these cards great for groups with varying degrees of ability. Fitness videos also complement the cards. They are an easy way to learn about the exercises if reading or following the instructions are challenging.
Spread the word! Share this post with your network using this sample tweet: Making fitness a priority in your life isn’t as hard as you think! Learn how @SpecialOlympics athlete @podmandan and Chicago @Cubs pitcher @kylehendricks28 make time for fitness: https://bit.ly/2J1NH12 #inclusivehealth