I'm sure that this book is well intentioned, but instead of losing, I gained on this plan. I don't know about my cholesterol, but I found this diet way too time consuming for my busy schedule, very expensive and required me to drive 20 miles to get the special foods that were required. In addition, I decided to eat meat while on the first two stages of this diet because it is next to impossible to be a vegetarian and be on this plan. All in all ... this program's not for everyone!