New meaning to the word SWEAT

When I got the email inviting us to this “new type of workout” I didn’t think much of it. I have done Bootcamp, British Military Fitness and all the classes at the gym so I figured this would be much of the same.

I was wrong.

For many years, cyclists have enjoyed the benefits of spinning for leg strength, fitness, bad weather outside, or even if they simply didn’t enjoy riding a bicycle. Well, now runners can enjoy the benefits of S.W.E.A.T 1000. It is aptly named but it does stand for Specialized Weight Endurance Athletic Training. And the 1,000 stands for the amount of calories you can lose per class.

In a nutshell, it’s a workout using the treadmill, step, weights and floor-work – all rolled in to one. The difference is these are no ordinary treadmills! The treadmills in the gym only go up to a 15% gradient, whilst these go up to 30%. The gradients are also pre-set so you don’t have to hold the button down forever. There are also handles at the top of the treadmill to hang onto for when the gradient gets closer to the 30% mark.

Every session is different. But in ours, we alternated between 10 minutes on the treadmill and 10 minutes on the floor. The treadmill workouts ranged from walking up a steep gradient to sprinting up to 20. And everything in-between. There are three “levels” to choose from; walker, jogger and runner. And the instructor calls out the various speed/gradient accordingly. I have never sweated so much! But thankfully, water and a towel are provided at each class.

You then move onto the floor work, but if you think this is when you recover, think again. The exercises never stop – including a bit of everything from weights to core work…

The class lasts for an hour, but it certainly didn’t feel like it for me. Time flew by! The music was awesome and the vibe great. It’s a hard workout but you just keep on going. I loved it! My heart rate maxed at 117%! (I think I need to have a word with Polar :-) but you get the idea)

At the moment, classes are only run in Sea Point at the Bodies Under Construction gym, but their plan is to franchise or get into some of the mainstream gyms, so look out for a S.W.E.A.T 1000 class near you!

At R150 a class, your model-like body doesn’t come cheap, but the more classes you sign up for, the cheaper it becomes.

If you live in Cape Town, and are keen to try it out, you get one complimentary class – so go and check it out!

You can book a class at 021-439 9903.