Yes, a friend of mine - male, overweight, taking statins. Gave up sugar and experienced a great drop in numbers.

Yes. My husband. He was near 300 lbs (6'3") and his cholesterol over 300 and triglycerides though the roof didn't want to go on meds. He lost 80lbs (by eating less and well) started a slow and steady, but daily exercise program.

His cholesterol is now 160, triglycerides at 30, normal PB, normal sugars, and a resting HR in the 40s. He's run a few marathons and 2 triathlons. He's 40 and we just got life insurance for the first time. We qualified for the lowest rate available.

His story is remarkable and has improved every single aspect of his life...career, sex life income, energy, sleep, but yes, it is possible.

Yes. We got you dh's down in a year. Don't recall the numbers exactly. But he was about to be put on meds before.
He already works out a lot so it was all diet. Nothing too dramatic. No red meat at home for a year (very occasional steak out and maybe a burger at a grilling event). Lot and lots of vegetables. 2 veg meals a week and not pasta, more like roasted veg and beans etc. a lot less carbs, no toast in the morning no bread at dinner. But still bagel on the weekend. Pasta no more than once every two weeks. We replaced res meat with ground turkey in whatever.
Limited dessert, no baked goods during the week- fruit instead. Oh and oddly 2% milk and 2% yogurt instead of fat free stuff. His doctor was also amazed it went down. It wasn't is goal, we just changed the way we eat in general.

133 LDL is not that high. How's your HDL? If you have a high HDL and reasonable triglycerides, you probably shouldn't lose sleep over it unless you've got other cardiac risk factors. Keep exercising and eating well, but don't stress -- especially because stress is a risk factor!

OP here. Thanks for the helpful info. I could use to exercise more and drop a few pounds. I do want to try diet too though. I found this article that mentions whey protein. I may try it: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/reduce-cholesterol/art-20045935

My numbers are very similar and I'm also trying to lower through diet and exercise. I'm not sure how I can exercise more. I currently do 75 minutes 4-5 days a week. 2/3rds of the 75 min is vigorous and heart pumping!

So diet it is, maybe for both of us. I'd love any tips as well. It feels weird to try and lower something that I can't monitor myself. Feels like it's going to be hard to stick to a diet if I can't see any results.

Go buy the book called the "Eight Week Cholesterol Cure" - follow it and it works.

Yes, a friend of mine with much higher numbers went on an essentially vegan diet and started running. His total number dropped by almost 100(!). Even his MD was stunned.

My neighbor did. She ate oatmeal every morning for a year (not instant) and was a regular walker/jogger at the time. Lowered it a lot! I don't remember the numbers but it was shocking.

I had my annual bloodwork, and my cholesterol came in borderline (208 total cholesterol, 133 LDL.) My doctor did not seem overly concerned and suggested I try lower-fat foods and more exercise. I am a big walker so this should be easy once the weather gets a bit better. The doctor also suggested retesting in 6 months. Has anyone had success with any particular approach? I am thinking of just eliminating all fried foods and trying to walk daily. Thanks for the help.