WELCOME
Welcome to Stoically Built!
My name is Salvador and I want to welcome you to whatever this becomes. I’ve thought about creating something like this site for a long time and finally woke up today deciding to finally push my procrastinating self into the deep end (cue the old adage about the best time to plant a tree being yesterday and the second best time being today). As of now, I intend for this blog/journal/community/void/whatever to be a space where I share thoughts on fitness, nutrition, and the principles that shape a disciplined, intentional life. These entries are, in many ways, reflections—notes to myself on what it means to cultivate strength, resilience, and balance in a world that is unpredictable, fickle, and often pulls us in a hundred directions.
Who I Am
I grew up understanding that strength is both a duty and a gift. My parents, who came to the US with little more than a dream and a determination to build a better life, instilled in me the values of resilience, hard work, and faith. Watching them navigate challenges with unrelenting resolve shaped my perspective on life, pushing me to set high standards for myself in my pursuits. From a young age, I was drawn to disciplines that required focus and growth—whether in academics, charting a path that led me to Yale and, later on, into investment banking; or in fitness, where the same principles of perseverance and commitment drive my journey.
Exercise and nutrition have become my anchors these last few years more than ever. I view them as a means to channel the mental and physical energy it takes to press on, even and especially when life becomes overwhelming and obstacles feel insurmountable. I approach bodybuilding and nutrition with the same rigor I bring to other parts of my life—not as projects to accomplish or burdens to overcome, but as lifelong disciplines. My interests here extend beyond visual and physical results; they’re about the quiet but profound satisfaction of knowing you’re bettering yourself and doing things others won’t.
For the past several years, I’ve focused on building my career in investment banking, a field that demands precision, endurance, and focus. But it’s also a career where you’re tested, often in ways that go beyond the mechanics of the work itself. My time in finance has made me appreciate the necessity of self-discipline and has deepened my respect for a grounded, structured life.
Why I Started Writing Here
I suppose this diary or blog (I should really decide on what to call this) is a way to commit my thoughts to somewhere permanent, to construct a place I can revisit in the future and refine my ideas on what it means to pursue excellence jointly in body and mind. I don’t have an agenda or business plan or any products to promote. This is more a space to document my own journey and musings. I plan on sharing what works for me, what doesn’t, and the lessons learned along the way. If my ideas help or resonate with others, that’s great, but at the very least I want a record my future self can look back on with pride in the way I approached life.
I’m also a voracious consumer of fitness and lifestyle content on YouTube, Instagram, and online forums. In these communities, I’ve noticed a dearth of resources or content focused on the interplay between fitness and nutrition and the development of one’s mind. I hope these writings can encourage a few others to do the same in filling this void.
What You’ll Find Here
In these entries, you’ll find thoughts on building strength, both physically and mentally, drawn from my own routines and philosophies. I’m interested in the practical ideas—programs for physical training, principles of nutrition—but also the philosophies that have kept me centered: stoicism, self-discipline, and the pursuit of a balanced and unflagging mindset.
Nowhere here will you find me evangelizing one approach to whatever pursuits or goals you might have. I want this journey to be a way of crafting my own systems in building strength of body and mind. I expect—in fact, I hope—to change my view on certain principles and be wrong about things, to course correct, and to learn from these challenges.
Training: I’ll share insights on the structures and programs that have helped me stay consistent in the gym while avoiding major injuries. This is less about extremes and more about building sustainable habits. I will also offer my perspective on how to maintain a routine when time is highly limited.
Nutrition: I view food as a source of energy, satisfaction, and sometimes even joy. I’ll dive into the principles of healthy eating, balanced meals, and the pursuit of a diet that both nourishes and energizes. As someone who has had to rebuild their relationship with food from the ground up, I will share an approach that works for me and that supports healthiness without letting nutrition become an all-consuming focus.
Philosophy: I’ll reflect on ideas from stoicism and other schools of thought that emphasize strength, purpose, and resilience. These philosophies offer a framework for navigating uncertainty and adversity, reminding us that true strength begins within. It’s a journey toward understanding what it means to live intentionally—to cultivate a mindset grounded in clarity, discipline, and the quiet courage to face each day with conviction
Reminders not to take life too seriously: I’ll sprinkle in dad jokes, sarcasm and lame puns, pictures of my dogs, and definitely much more.
What This Journey Means to Me
More than anything, this is a journey—a long and winding process of trying, failing, learning, adjusting, and growing. I have no end goal or grand achievement I’m chasing. Instead, I’m striving to shape a life built on strength and reflection, one that allows me to find meaning in every small but intentional step forward.
I invite you to follow along, if you’d like. Read what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and perhaps find a few ideas that echo your own goals. I hope that in sharing my thoughts, some of these reflections may resonate with you too.
Thank you for reading.
To strength of body, clarity of mind.
S