High cholesterol

Hey moms, I need some advice here. So, I am 27, I've gained about 40lb or so since first getting pregnant, I have 2 beautiful kids now and I just discovered my cholesterol is a little high, and likely inherited from my mom's side of the family. I don't have to take meds for it at this time, but I do need to start exercising and start dieting, or rather consume fewer calories and fats. Have any of you been through this before? What steps are you taking to reduce your cholesterol? Is it working? What resources did you use help change your lifestyle (like website, book, etc)?