As for cholesterol I firmly believe in eating a low fat diet will help lower it, I am not what you call the type who looks healthy on the outside, as I am a little overweight, but my cholestrol is excellent, and I tribute it to the low fat diet, I just need to bump up my exercise to loose the weight., so try doing the walking and limit those fatty foods or choose lower fat options would be my advice, it seems to be working for me. however having said that hereditary factors do come into it, my mother also was good at my age, but now she suffers from high Cholesterol, so I may well be doomed whatever I do, but i will keep trying, Good luck with your walking.