ViPR - deadlier than its (sort of) namesake

A few hours ago the ViPR - standing for Vitality, Performance and Reconditioning - looked like a harmless tube with a few holes in it.

After using it for half an hour (and not even continuously) I discovered it was anything but.

In fact, if a real viper had come snapping at my heels I'd probably have fallen down and asked it to put me out of my misery.

The ViPR provides a full-body workout, as my muscles and my Virgin Active personal trainer Demian kept telling me.

Demian put me through a variety of exercises which involved picking up, throwing and balancing the ViPR while doing squats.

It was painful. In fact it was more than painful. Every muscle in my body was protesting, my heart was beating a million miles a minute and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.

But I couldn't, because Demian was encouraging me to do better, and if I don't get fit then I won't be able to climb three mountains in 24 hours and then CPC Kent won't get the money we're trying to raise.

But still, if next week's personal training session involves the ViPR I might sneak a snake in and tempt it to bite me so I can have a moment's respite.

Sarah