How do poor people exercise?

Using your body's own resistance is a fantastic way to strength train. You don't need special tools. Crunches, squats, lunges, etc. Cardio is easy- no one will charge you to walk, run, or run up and down stairs.

If you truly don't have the money then be creative.

Libraries are free- rent work out DVD's from there.

If you have a reusable grocery bad load it with canned goods and guess what you have weights to lift.

Don't spend money on a fancy step, I use cinder blocks.

Seek out friends who are former dieters. I had friends give me an entire set of weights. Recently they bought and elliptical...I'm waiting.

Check Google Maps and see if you live close to some hiking trails. Just regular Uphill trails, or even streets that go Uphill (I would love to live in San Francisco, poor exercisers paradise!). You can build your resistance by starting to walk uphill, then when you get used to that try jogging and then running. Meanwhile the sweat will be pouring, and the pounds with it

I also invested less than $200 on a mountain bike from Target. I go ride my bike at least one hour 2 or 3 times a week. That will pay for itself eventually, especially since trying to build resistance by driving it uphill will cost me lots of pounds!!

You don't need any money to exercise. You just need time. You can do calesthenics (pushups, jumping jacks, sit ups, sqats, lunges, etc.). You can, as you say, walk or run, both excellent exercises. A chair with arms but without wheels is a good piece of exercise equipment. Sit in it and use your arms to lift and lower your body weight. Sit on the edge, lean bad and alternately raise each knee to your chest.

Turn on some music and dance your *kitten* off (literally)!!

Great suggestions! You absolutely, positively DO NOT need a gym to lose weight/get fit. Our bodies provide us with all the restistance weight that we need for working out. If you're motivated, you are all that you'll need. Do as mentioned above, jump rope, leg raises, dips in a chair., etc. Is there a high school football stadium nearby? Go there to run stairs. No fancy equipment required! Good luck!

If you have a computer, you can find some good free sites. I use a free yoga site which is great.

Workout dvd's (there are lot's of inexpensive ones)
Go for a run when the weather is nice
Bodyrock.tv (really great site with short but intense workouts + info on diet as well)

Jump rope, Hula Hoop ($1-$10?). Dancing while watching t.v. or listening to music. Running in place while watching t.v. or listening to music. Lifting your legs while you sit on the couch or at the table. Isometrics. "Yummy Mummy". There are all kinds of exercises you can do with your body alone. Youtube is filled with videos teaching you these. Lunges, squats, planks, etc. and variations. I love gyms but I don't love gym fees, salesmen and contracts so I, too, am not a member. One of the best things I believe you can do is run... which is why it is my exercise of choice. You don't have to go fast at all. Just doing it any will make a difference. Run on your street, at a park or on the track at a local high school. Also, most any sport if you can find a partner - throwing a football, frisbee, kicking a soccer ball, etc.

What about exercise videos? They can be relatively inexpensive, and you can find them even cheaper on ebay or amazon... You can easily make your own weights with water jugs. Also, I've heard that some cable providers have exercise channels. Mine doesn't, or at least I haven't found it yet. But yours might. Do you have a wii or xbox? They have lots of fitness games.

The public library is a great place to get various excercise videos for FREE!! And you can try them before you buy them

The internet has some great suggestions for free workouts. Also magazines usually suggest free workouts you can do at home or in a local park. Do you have an iphone? can you afford an app? lots of great apps for helping suggest exercises etc.

It's all about moving and keeping moving. Just sticking a great song and dancing about is exercise.

Good luck

high intensity body weight circuit training, google around, you'll find a million workouts that take less than 30 minutes and nothing but your own motivation. Running is freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Although, it's nice to have decent shoes.