Stuart Team Rider
Riding The Tour in	Bloomfield, CT to Scranton, PA
Riding out of	Bloomfield, CT
Motivation for joining The Tour	Primarily it is the opportunity to share a message with others on the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle by showing that it is possible for an ordinary, out-of-shape person to change for the better after a lifetime of inappropriate choices. Secondarily there is the personal challenge, of doing something well beyond my capabilities so that I can become healthier and say that I have accomplished something significant.
Reasons for adopting an active lifestyle	Last year, while watching the 2006 Health Awareness Tour returning to Bloomfield, my desire to begin cycling after 20 years off the bike was rekindled. While I wanted to get healthier I never acted upon it due to the perceived expense of a bicycle, the difficulty sticking to any diet and the fact that each time I tried running my knees would hurt. Earlier this year I began a series of client meetings where health awareness was the primary focus. After learning about the epidemic rates of obesity and diabetes, and the largely preventable nature of these conditions I decided I needed to set an example for myself, my spouse, my children, my friends and my neighbors. I shared my thoughts with my wife, Janet, and she encouraged me to join her in exercising, eating a lower sugar and lower fat diet. As an added surprise, she bought me a bicycle for Father's Day and my 40th birthday. It has not been easy and adopting a healthy lifestyle has required commitment in ways I had not considered, from arranging my work and personal schedule to allowing me time to cycle, to setting the alarm in order to wake up 1/2 hour earlier to walk the dog.
Why a healthy lifestyle is important	Healthy lifestyle didn't mean much until I learned how many of our diseases and early deaths are due to the exercise and nutritional choices we make every day.
One piece of advice to help others live a healthier life	Not matter what shape you are in and what choices you have made to this point in your life, anything you do in support of a healthy lifestyle can improve the quality of your life from this point forward.