8 weeks ago total cholestrol was 237
Monday total cholestrol was 181
All I did was stop eating three jumbo eggs cooked in slabs of butter every morning, now I eat Cheerios.  Kinda funny, huh?

The slabs of butter may have been your culprit.  But congratulations.  Don't forget to tell the hottie in the elevator.


Woody

Better check this out:
Inactivity may trump fat as heart risk

I'm working on this exact same project.
I got a blood test as part of my yearly physical and my doc pointed out that while I'm in pretty good shape for someone my age my blood work indicates that I'm on the cusp of being high risk for heart disease.  She's threatening me with a lifetime scrip for Lipitor if I can't get my cholesterol level (218) down to an acceptable level with diet.  She recommended the "South Beach Diet as a starting point.  I've cut out using butter (for almost all cooking I've switched over to olive oil instead of butter) and my chocolate habit has had to go in the trash as well (I limit myself to six klondike bars over every two weeks as my only treat).  I've stopped my addiction to copious amounts of "junk" cheese on everything I eat.  I'm also eating about two thirds of a pound of roasted almonds every week as my main "fat fix" (fortunately, I love roasted almonds).  My next try at the blood work will be early in Nov.  The Klondike bars will have to end later this month.  
I'm giving it my best shot!  Wish me luck!