What do we (I am sadly in a state like this) do to be able to start doing them? Hold off until we ARE able to, or just keep trying constantly? I am somewhat embarrassed for asking this, but it's a better option than just not knowing.

Brett, you shouldn't be embarrassed to ask this. There are a lot of people who can't do pull ups, even people who consider themselves in okay shape.

Here are some things you can do to reach your first pull up:

1) Step on a chair and do pull ups.

2) Have a buddy help push you towards succeeding in a pull up.

3) Just keep trying. You'll eventually get it.

As long as your diet is good and you're doing plenty of walking, you'll reach it sooner.

I actually always prefer the "keep trying" approach for myself when I'm learning something new, but the chair and buddy thing works for a lot of people.

Hope that helps Brett.

Thank you for the reply, and I will surely choose the keep trying option, seeing as I do rather like the feeling of knowing that you, not anyone else, but you alone overcame an objective.

But then again, if you take it in a different light, you can get that same feeling and be glad to know that you have good people backing you up (assuming you chose to get a friend to help). Or the knowledge that you're resourceful, if you'd prefer a chair.

Thank you for the reply, and I will surely choose the keep trying option, seeing as I do rather like the feeling of knowing that you, not anyone else, but you alone overcame an objective.

But then again, if you take it in a different light, you can get that same feeling and be glad to know that you have good people backing you up (assuming you chose to get a friend to help). Or the knowledge that you're resourceful, if you'd prefer a chair.

You might also try doing the excercise static.
Get in bottom position of the pull up, and hold yourself for as long as you can. Or lift yourself up as high as you can, and hold the position.

That's a good idea; I'm surprised I didn't think of it. :O