A new fitness fad is blasting through Athens at 900 calories per hour. It’s a combination of cardio interval training and strength training designed to create the ultimate workout. At Blast 900 they call that a recipe for burning fat, and blasting up to 900 calories in just one hour.

Owner Lucy Atkinson says, “Blast is more about building long, lean, smooth muscles. Interval training, because your heart rate is going up and down and you’re not doing anything for too long, you won’t get any bulky results.”

Half of the 16-person class will be on the treadmill while the other half works on the floor, and will switch every 5 minutes for the whole hour. People on the floor will use various weights and equipment to target upper and lower body muscles. Those on the treadmill will do a variety of workouts that range from sprinting intervals to climbing up hills.

Atkinson says, “It just works out your whole body. And it’s different from anything else thats around in Athens right now.” Most treadmills usually only go from 0-15% incline, but the treadmills at Blast 900 go from -3%, which immitates walking downhill, to 30%, which is where you’re going to blast 900 calories.

It may sound intense. That’s because it is. But don’t let that stop you. Director of Fitness Development, Rich Shaw, says, “It may come across as intimidating, and that you have to be a runner.. that’s not true. We have runner, jogger, and walker settings. Anybody can do blast.” A first timer at Blast 900, Ramsey Bridges says: “I just had a baby 3 months ago. So I’ve been running, but nothing else. And that is a total workout. It’s getting my core, arms, legs. I think it worked every muscle in my body in an hour.”

Atkinson is a UGA Law grad who’s passion for Blast 900 inspired her to open the franchise after moving back to the Classic City with her husband and 17 month old son last summer. Her goal is form a community at Blast 900: “We want to get to know every single client that walks through our door. We want to help people meet their goals.”

Blast 900 will also be introducing a nutrition plan in March which will focus on moderation and teaching people how to eat for rest of their life.

Reporter: Laura Dunlap