BUILT DIFFERENT: From Sobriety to Strength: My Journey of Self-Discovery

By Rodolfo Mugo

I am Rodolfo and have been sober for over 8 years, probably the best decision in my life, because I  gained access to myself, or I’ve started to have more self-awareness, as many call it. 

It all all started when I started to remember situations of aggression from one of my siblings towards me since I was a kid, always telling me what was wrong with my body or I wasn’t capable to do anything I wanted to be, like a bodybuilder for example, one day he replied to me “what, are you going to end up working as a bouncer in a night club” and the sticked to me for a reason, always letting his words or someone else opinion limit my personality. 

I moved from Mexico to New York City in 2001 and lived there for around 15 years in total, working in the restaurant business, the last 10 years as a chef and baker.  I got sober there, and I’m definitely working with pastries. While you get sober, you gain a lot of weight. I was literally eating my feelings away. 

In my second year of sobriety, I had lower-back surgery in February 2019. Two weeks into recovery, complications hit hard. A spinal headache from a CSF leak sent me back to the ER,  and I ended up stuck in a hospital bed, fully flat, for almost two weeks. A second surgery followed, and I spent nearly a month in the hospital. During that same time, my dad was diagnosed with a heart condition, which kept both of my parents from flying to New York to be with me. The only people by my side were my sober friends. 

That stretch became a huge turning point. Lying there in week three, unsure if I’d regain full control of my body, I hit a spiritual breaking point. I asked God for a second chance and promised I’d give my body a better purpose if I got it. It was the moment I realized I had to be my own priority, no longer living under my family’s expectations of who I should be. 

That same year, in August, my father passed away. I always thought that would be the worst day of my life, Its been a “before and after” since then. Still, there was a feeling of “Everything will be alright, that I will be alright” because I started to work on myself, which gave me a sensation that I am capable of taking care of myself from that moment.  

I moved to Chicago in February 2020 to be closer to family, and when the pandemic hit, it felt like a strange blessing. It gave me space to reset and save money. Over time, I realized my social life here wasn’t going to be as full as it was in New York. The social and communication vibe in Chicago felt more limited and a bit divided, but instead of fighting it, I used it. With fewer distractions, no invites, and quieter days, I turned inward and committed fully to bodybuilding. Focusing on myself became the best part of the transition. 

I treat my fitness journey the same way I treat my sobriety: one day at a time, focused on progress, not perfection. Meal prep is non-negotiable because it keeps me grounded. I  stopped fearing food and carbs and started seeing them as fuel. And having a coach changed everything. Just like a sponsor, that accountability keeps me showing up every week. 

I’ve learned that resilience is rooted in vulnerability. Accepting my feelings while being accountable for my actions has strengthened me. Sometimes I may seem selfish, but I view life like an airplane preparing for a crash: I must put my mask on first to help others, but only if you really want help.