Weight lost but cholesterol is up??

context:

I’ve been losing weight over the past 4 years getting ready for a bariatric sleeve surgery. My starting weight was 470. My highest weight was 490. The program I’m with requires one to be below 400 pounds before they will okay the surgery.

So I did the work. I joined a gym, I changed my eating habits, read books about nutrition and fitness, counted calories and made sure I stayed in a deficit, meal prepped, walking a lot more, started working out regularly (2hrs/3x a week) and eventually I got down to 390. Had my surgery in September 2025 and was 370 at the time of the surgery.

Pre surgery I had made a map of each week and the diet I’d have to follow post surgery. Post surgery I followed the diet fanatically: Two weeks clear liquids, one week non clear liquids, one week soup consistency, one week soft foods, and eventually slowly adding regular food back in.

Since the surgery I’ve continued with my regular exercise 3x a week (swimming). I was also switching in going to the gym and doing cardio and weights when I couldn’t get to the pool. Now I have a routine where I go to the gym MWF/Sat and swim on T/Th. I’m still doing my meal prepping and calorie counting. I went to the doctor this week and am currently at 296.

My question:

I got my three month post op labs done and everything is good except my cholesterol. My cholesterol is still high and in some sections has even gone up. This is frustrating and disheartening and I’m wondering what else I can be doing. I’m exercising, losing weight, and getting plenty of good fiber (I’m getting my fiber from veggies, fruit, beans, and adding fiber psyllium to my protein shakes).

My results below are from 2024 to now:

Cholesterol 189–>210

HDL 42–>45

Triglycerides 345–>147

LDL 101–>139

CHOL/HDLC 4.5–>4.7

NON HDL CHOL 147–>165

Is this normal? Can I be doing more?

Idk what I’m doing wrong and would like some medical advice. I will follow up with my PCP and Bariatric team but I know I won’t hear from them for at least another week and this has me stressed and I want to put some work into action sooner rather than later.