We know what you’re thinking, how can fitness be a party? Well, brace yourselves, because it can! As part of our corporate health and wellness program here at AFG, we partnered with HealthQuest and FitnessQuest to participate in a challenging and fun fitness experiment.
A Fitness Party is a 40-minute circuit workout, designed to your group’s specific ages and fitness levels. Before the party, we were given instructions to be hydrated, have a light snack at least an hour prior, and wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Not knowing what to expect, we changed into our exercise clothes and made the trip to FitnessQuest’s Macomb location. We were greeted by FitnessQuest Director Dana Martin and Manager Michael Miller, and they immediately got to work explaining what exactly a Fitness Party entails.
From left to right: Lauren Simonetti, Rebecca Pierce, Meaghan Dalton, and Megan Sundberg and FitnessQuest before our FitnessParty!
First, we broke into teams. Luckily, our coincidental clothing coordination made it easy—so we had the gray team and the pink team. Dana and Mike walked us through each circuit station, explaining how to count our repetitions and correcting our form to prevent injury or strain. After about a 10 minute breakdown of the exercises, we wished each other luck and got down to business!
As energetic music pumped through the speakers, our teams did everything from push-ups to 3 minutes of sprinting, TRX squats, pull-ups, jump rope, and rowing, just to name a few. The circuit was split into two parts—a strength training exercise followed by cardiovascular activity. For example, the pink team’s first station was:
- Push-ups: 20 seconds, 10 second break (4 reps)—as many as you can do!
- Treadmill: 3 minutes, as far as you can go!
Forty sweaty minutes later, we were done, and all smiles! Here’s what the team said about the experience:
- Rebecca Pierce (Communication Specialist at AFG): “The FitnessQuest —Fitness Party was a great time! Even though we had a smaller group, the trainers were still able to make it fun and competitive. I also never got bored, because the program design ensured we were always trying something new for short bursts of time. The trainers made sure we did each exercise properly so we got the most out of our workout. It was the best combo of good-natured competition and personal attention to our fitness!”
- Meaghan Dalton (Plan Analyst at AFG): “The Fitness Party was a great way to get to know some of my coworkers a bit more and to learn a few new exercises. It was definitely challenging and has caused me to reexamine my current fitness routine. Having the opportunity to visit FitnessQuest after work also provided me with a way to unwind from the challenges of the day and it was an excellent mood booster! Ultimately, I believe the experience has the potential to help individuals of all different fitness levels to think outside the box when it comes to staying active and will promote camaraderie between employees who undergo the challenge together!”
From left to right: Lauren Simonetti, Meaghan Dalton, Rebecca Pierce, and Megan Sundberg showing off our FitnessQuest tshirts after we completed the Fitness Party!
- Megan Sundberg (Enrollment Specialist at AFG): “I liked the TRX training squats because it helped to make sure I was using good form. I also liked that they modified our push-ups so that it was possible but still challenging, especially after multiple reps! Dana and Mike encouraged us to push ourselves—even when we thought we couldn’t do anymore! I had a great time with my coworkers, and the program could be easily modified for any fitness level!”
- Lauren Simonetti (Marketing Specialist at AFG): “As a consistent gym-goer, I wasn’t expecting to be challenged, but was I ever! The circuit training definitely got my heart rate going, and the short bursts of exercise really pushed you to give it everything you had for that rep. Splitting into teams gave the Fitness Party a competitive nature, but we supported our team members every step of the way. Dana and Mike encouraged us and were very attentive, monitoring our form in each circuit. As a team, we encouraged one another and congratulated our successes, and we had fun doing it. I’m confident anyone, regardless of fitness level, would really enjoy this party!”
By the way, the gray team beat the pink team by almost 25%…in case you were wondering!
For more information about a Fitness Party at your office, contact Lauren Simonetti or your dedicated Account Manager at (248) 594-5550. For more information about HealthQuest and FitnessQuest, contact Dana Martin at dmartin@fqpt.com.
Special thanks to our friends at FitnessQuest for hosting the party and challenging our bodies!
