u/Traditional_Box9955

H1b approved after waiting for one year (employer filed August 2025). I was about to try premium processing by end of month (thank God i didn't waste money) cos I was scared the ban on 39 countries might come back soon.

Now I await I-485 approval. Glory be to God almighty.

This time last year, my BP always stayed elevated, somewhere in the 125-135 range for the systolic, but the diastolic has always stayed normal (60-80). A recent visit to the doctor earlier this year confirmed I need to lose some weight. I was about 185lbs. I dropped weight based on diet change and walking only (2miles, 5days/week). I have not been to the gym once this year. I now weigh ~162 lbs. My change in diet, I think, had the most influence. I stopped eating or drinking anything simple carb (e.g white rice, bread, white pasta, anything heavy on simple carbs). I switched to more complex carbs with high fiber like oats, brown rice (once a week), beans, sweet potatoes, fruits (avocado, apples, banana), nuts (walnut & peanut) and vegetables(spinach). I also cut out salt. I have never taken BP meds.

The readings posted are an average of 2 left (113/64 twice) and 1 right arm (112/63 once) measurements. I have seen these readings consistently for the past two weeks, and makes me happy about my progress when I look back on how my BP was last or earlier this year.

This post is a means of encouragement that you can also do it 💪🏿.

To everyone (mainly EB2 NIW petitioners) who wants to expedite their case/s with the uscis, they already gave a list of criteria for expedition. I’d advise to always use the fourth option. I don’t think they care about your financial struggles. See below;

Link here; https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/expedite-requests

• Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for urgent action is not the result of the petitioner’s or applicant’s failure to timely file the benefit request or to timely respond to any requests for evidence;
• Emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations;
• Nonprofit organization (as designated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)) whose request is in furtherance of the cultural or social interests of the United States;
• Government interests, including cases identified by the government as urgent because they involve the public interest, public safety, national interest, or national security interests; and
• Clear USCIS error.

Steps for expediting
- Go through your congress man or woman

- Get a letter from your company to support you claims

- Submit the letter to your congressman/woman

- Hope and pray

I went to my PCP in March 16th and my LDL was 118. He told me to change diet and reduce weight(i was 185lbs). I changed diet and walk daily and I lost 22 pounds (now 163lbs). I went for a cholesterol check today, July 1st, and my LDL went down to 101. I still need to get it down more but this is incredible progress for me. I was coming from 154mg/dL LDL as at 2023 and that’s when i started monitoring my diet, though not as strict I have been this past 3.5 months. My BP also looks good.

You can challenge yourself and do it.

I went to the doctor on Mar 16, my weight was 185 lbs. The doc told me to change my diet to lower my cholesterol level. Mind you I have been walking 2 miles a day ~3 months prior to that appointment day (November 2025 - March 2026). After cutting out eating white rice everyday, switched to mixed vegetables for the most part, continued my walks, I am now 162 lbs. I dropped 23 lbs. I was so surprised.

Diet is really all you need to drop weight fr

Just to add a bit of context how my body react to different foods. These above readings are done at same time everyday (7am).

So here is the story. I have been eating my normal healthy foods , mixed veg, spinach etc, cut out salts and all that. On the 19th of May, in the evening around 4pm, I did a study on my body to test if my diet change is working and not just false readings. I binged on salty chips (about a plate) with cream cheese. The next day 20th May (Wednesday), 7am, I took my bp it was 135/74 (last reading on first image and second reading on 2nd image). Over the course of the next few days, the bp started going down (2nd image) since I cut out the salty chips completely. My last reading was May 26th (119/69) as seen in second image. According to study, it can take 2-3 days for sodium to completely leave the body.

The point I’m trying to drive out in all of these is, there are people who eat these salty chips (salty stuffs) everyday, their bp will be consistently high. Even though 135/74 is not that bad, the systolic is elevated and from the data trend above it is definitely the outlier. We all have different body and immune systems. The way my body will react might be different from another person. Also, I have been eating healthy before trying out that experiment.

Sorry for the long note but I had to put it out there just to educate someone.

Used to be around 135/73. My systolic has always been the elevated one but diastolic within range always. I worked on including lot of fibers in my diet. Reduced salt drastically. Spinach I’d say has lot of potassium. If you can incorporate that into your diet, it will help.

My typical breakfast ; oatmeal and 1 banana, dry non-fat powdered milk.

Lunch : mixed vegetables (the great value frozen brand) sautéed in 1tbsp of oil, 1 baked sweet potatoes, 1 egg, 1 avocado. Sometimes swap egg with 1 chicken skinless drumstick. I eat this 3 times a week. With Spinach 4 times out of 7 days. I alternate the sequence the week after.

Dinner ; I skip most times or just snack on lightly salted peanuts, home made popcorn (no salt) or 1 apple.

I walk 2 miles a day , 5 days a week.

no alcohol, no smoking, no sugary snacking.

P.S; one of my theory is, I don’t think our body needs that much food. Two meals a day for me ideal.