Hi Jane,   The changes you made have given you great results!  Well done!  Anytime HDL is high, it gets more difficult to keep total cholesterol less than 200.  Generally that is not a concern, a high HDL is desirable and counteracts the negative of a total cholesterol greater than 200.  A previous HDL of 85-95 is excellent and I do not find the jump to 124 to be such a stretch compared to say an HDL normally around 40-50 and then a big jump to 124, especially if you were incorporating more heart healthy fats into your diet these past 7 weeks.  However, I would not rule out what your MD is saying related to neurotoxins and HDL.  I came across a study not too long ago looking for participants with HDL levels greater than 100 mg/dl to explore elevated HDL levels further.  It's an area we need to learn more about.   Again, great job!   All the best,   Lisa Nelson, RD, LN The Heart of Health - Heart Health and Weight Loss Tips