My Life on the roller coaster of weight loss

i am trying to get off the roller coaster of weight gain / loss.  once and for all i want to get healthy and i am trying weight loss before i start excercising.  i have a large family and we cook for at least 6 people at a time and that just makes it so easy to eat unhealthy (not an excuse, just easy) so now they can eat healthier too and not even know it because i am cooking the same things, just in different ways.  i am always looking for new recipes, new suggestions.  i am looking to do this weight loss without pills, surgeries or "diet" food.  i want to do this with just eating healthier for the rest of my life and eventually incorporate excercise into it.  how do i know when i can do that? we'll see as it goes...one step at a time.  food is an addiction and like any other addiction, it's one step at a time.