Resolution No. 1: I will take the stairs (to the refrigerator)

Small steps. One foot in front of the other. One day at a time.

These are the secrets to successfully completing those New Year's resolutions, especially those that have to do with the number one resolution of getting in shape.

Now is not the time to say I plan to lose 100 pounds in a week, no matter what the magazine covers on the newsstands say. Nope, now is the time for small steps, one day at a time, one bite at a time.

Here are my New Year's resolutions that are sure winners, ones that will surely boost me from the losers' group to the winners'.

Even though I am a writer, I resolve to not sit at the computer all day and I will not stash snacks in my desk drawer. If I get up to go down stars to get my snacks, I will get more exercise and eliminate the chance of dangerous molds growing inside my desk.

If I go out for lunch and order soup in a bread bowl, I resolve to not eat the bread, or maybe I will only eat half of the bread. OK I resolve to eat the bread bowl but leave the extra hard roll.

At home, I resolve to cook for two, instead of cooking like my mother, who always wanted to have enough on the table in case 150 of her closest friends dropped by.

I will also encourage my husband to make some of those interesting recipes he made when we were dating over 23 years ago, especially those that I lovingly hid under my napkin. I now know that the caloric value of food that is hidden under a napkin is much less than that which is consumed.

I resolve to practice portion control, one bite at a time. I will put my fork down between bites and quit before I get tennis elbow from too many trips to my mouth. I will find healthier recipes, low fat and low sugar.

I will go through every cookbook until I find healthy recipes that don't taste like cardboard, Styrofoam or paste. If they do taste like the aforementioned items, I will be frugal and save those delicacies to use for art projects.

I will give up my membership in the clean plate club. After 58 years of being a member I realize the club offers very little in benefits. No time off, no vacations, no bonuses. I am better off with AARP.

I will get more exercise by racing my husband to the family room after dinner so that I can have the couch and stretch out. Stretching is said to be very good for the spine. If he beats me to the couch, I resolve to not give in. Once he has the National Geographic channel on and is happily snoring, I will expend any calories necessary to wrestle his fingers away from the remote.

I will no longer take food into the family room to eat in front of the TV. I know that is bad. Therefore, I resolve to eat it on the side of the TV or behind it if necessary.

As much as I hate it, I resolve to move more, and sweat less, especially now that I know the key to success is small steps, one day at a time.