I know this is a response to an old thread, but in case anyone else just happens to come across this thread: I don't want to spend money on a gym, where I have to exercise with a bunch of other people around. Not happening. So, I do the following (and has worked for me): * Take 10 minute walks whenever possible -- break time, lunch time, after work -- if the weather is inclement, go to the Mall, CostCo (just don't grab a cart) or Sam's Club. * Do you have stairs in your house? Run up and down the stairs a lot. It helps if you can make an errand, like taking things up and bringing things back down. * Find workouts online, on TV, or buy some DVD's. My favorite on TV is Classical Stretch (PBS) because it's elegant, and you do strengthening and conditioning as well as low-impact aerobics. I'm a school teacher, so one of my other favorite workouts online are with Fresh Start Fitness and Zumba Kids, both done with my students (we all get exercise and have fun doing it). * Every area of the country has trails somewhere. On weekends, find your local trails and hike them, now that the weather is turning nice almost everywhere. * My husband and I took out a membership to our local zoological society. It helps that we live near enough to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Safari Park (formerly Wild Animal Park). Both parks are huge. We walk. And walk. Uphill. Downhill. Then Uphill some more. Last Saturday, we walked 4 miles at the Safari Park. Oh, and we got to see some amazing animals, too. Depending on where you live, you may have a huge zoo or animal park nearby where you will get some walking in. Donna

Alcohol is a depressant and exercise releases endorphins so I think it does (temporarily) change the brain chemistry. I think though that going back to alcohol and a sedentary way of life would put you right back where you started. That's how it works for me anyway but my drugs of choice are carbohydrates.

I don't have experience with avascular necrosis, but I was experiencing some decrease in blood flow to the femoral head with an arthritic/birth defect hip joint while trying to postpone surgery. About the best I could suggest would be doing things that are non-weight bearing until you've seen the therapist. Isometric, swimming.... Going from active to non-active while you wait could cause you mental stress, I understand that - but don't try to work through pain and risk injury to a compromised joint please. Good Luck!

The NYT article brings up good points about the inaccuracy of max HR formulas, but HR can still be a good indicator of tracking intensity for a lot of people. It was scientifically tested but not meant to be the be all and end all like how it has been used. People like Seals have proposed other calculations than 220-age for max HR. At least with my undergraduates, when we test them on the treadmill with the metabolic measurement system they are often within 2-3 beats per minute of their age-predicted max. I had a maximal nuclear stress test earlier this year because I was having dizziness which luckily was not cardiac related, just vertigo. My age-predicted was 169 and I reached 171 at max--and I told the techs I was going for max, but I've always followed the formula. The only way to really know your max HR is to have a maximal test and measure it, but that's not something everyone can have done. You can also use perceived exertion aka Borg scales as a check. We recommend this a lot, especially if someone is using medications that may affect their HR like beta-blockers and/or if they have other chronic health problems. You can either use the original 6-20 scale or use the the modified 0 to 10 scale found in most health clubs. http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/measuring/exertion.html http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/prevention/exercise/rpe-scale