There’s no escaping the truth that exercise is good for you. But that doesn’t mean we don’t experience exercise challenges. Too little time, trouble getting started or working through a plateau all can derail our best intentions. It can be hard to RiseUP off the couch and get moving.

Move & Improve is a 12-week program from Eastern Maine Health Systems (EMHS) designed to help you increase your physical activity level. Not just to drop weight, not just to lower your stress levels, not just to tone up, but simply to improve your health overall.

The program recognizes that everyone is different. Anyone can participate in Move & Improve. Whether you are just now thinking about becoming more active or you already exercise daily, Move & Improve encourages you to set your personal goals based on your current individual physical activity status.

By following the program, you will gradually build your activity level. At the end of 12 weeks, you will have established a new habit you can continue on your own.

• The program is completely FREE.
• You can participate as an individual or as part of a UMS team.
• Registered participants will have access to an online activity graph to aid in tracking your progress.
• Participants who are active at least eight of the 12 weeks will be entered for random prize drawings at the end of the program.
• Everyone, including people not registered, can sign up for weekly newsletters filled with fitness tips. Newsletters will be delivered for the duration of the 12-week program.

Once you become more active, you will find the benefits include: