Tree huggers hate treadmills

Sometimes, it isn't easy being green. Not during the depths of a dark, cold, rainy winter. You want to get healthy, maybe lose those extra pounds of holiday flab. But now TreeHugger tells you that the gym's treadmill pumps out 2 lbs. of C02 and burns as much energy as 15 of those wasteful incandescent lightbulbs.

"Pick a machine without a plug," the greenies say.

Sorry, not until spring unless you live in Arizona. I'd love to go jogging outside. Frankly, the treadmill bores me silly and makes me feel like a hamster in a wheel.

But when the sun goes down before I get home from work, this little female runner isn't heading into the streets alone, even if the sidewalk is dry. And for folks who live in snow country, indoor gyms can be the only consistent opportunity for activity in this cold season.

Considering the high rates of obesity in America, I'd rather encourage folks to work out, even if that uses a little fossil fuel. After the spring thaw, yeah, let's head for the great outdoors.

Just don't give up a workout with the "earth-friendly" excuse. If you feel strongly about it, buy a carbon offset.