When cleaning the bathroom tiles with a toothbrush and tweezing your eyebrows both seem like better choices than a date with your treadmill, it's time to rethink your relationship. Before you begin referring to it as the "dreadmill," change your attitude and develop a passion for going nowhere fast. Take these tips to heart so you and your machine remain on speaking terms through the winter.

Set the mood. Lights, TV, music, ACTION. If your treadmill is at home, put it in an inviting place with requisite entertainment like your TV, CD, DVD or radio -- whatever gets you pumped. Get it out of that cold, damp basement -- even die-hard mill users have trouble getting motivated in a cobweb-covered setting.

If the gym is your preferred sweat-stop
Take advantage of the many entertainment options most gyms offer. But if your gym's entertainment system doesn't get your People's Choice Award, bring your own. A new portable CD player -- or a homemade tape of the worst '80s music you can imagine if you think it's a hoot singing along to Cyndi Lauper -- could be your best fitness investment yet. Whatever it takes to get you through a treadmill session is fair game.

March to your own drummer.
Occasionally tuning in to your treadmill workout rather than tuning out can be a refreshing change and can help you develop your own inner rhythm. Take off the headphones, turn off the TV, cover the treadmill console and listen to the sound of your inhale, exhale, the slap of your feet, the swish of your hands swiping your sweats. Match your inhale to each stride. IN-IN-OUT-OUT-IN-IN-OUT-OUT. Let your mind get into the zone and take you away from the drudgery.