I am retired and live in Washington State. Just found out (in January) that I have much too high cholesterol levels and Doc wants me to take meds for it. (I already take HBP & thyroid meds, good grief!) I've made myself a vow to get that cholesterol down as well as the weight, without the meds. After much research I decided on the Meditereanean Diet. My doc said he would give me until the end of summer to get them down. I don't believe he thinks I can do it. We'll see about that....