Diet and exercise. And being relentless (although not necesarily obsessive) about each.

With a family history of high cholesterol figures, I'm the first male on both sides of the family to pass age 55 without having had a heart attack.

My numbers ran high--consistent with the family history--until I quit smoking, modified my diet, and bought the bike. These days, my numbers fall in the "ideal" range, except HDL, which stubbornly remains in only the "desireable" range.

Modifying diet was easier for me than for most because I do nearly all my own cooking. If I buy something out of a box or go to a restaurant, it's a red-letter day. It's a lot easier to manage when you're in charge of the ingredients.

I make sure I get at least 50 miles a week in by biking to work. Even in the worst weather, I can manage the five miles in each direction. In the best weather, that stretches to 17 miles each way.

Meanwhile, the rest of my family is on statins and struggles to get out of the reclining chair. (My dad has worn out FIVE reclining chairs and countless remotes in the 22 years since he retired.) I'm expecting to visit my younger brothers in the CICU any day now.