What was Jodi Vance taking? Trainer Justin Mihaly says late bodybuilder made ‘serious error’ amid sudden death

On February 27, 2024, Jodi Vance, a 20-year-old bodybuilder and coach, passed away, trainer Justin Mihaly said she had been taking "extremely hazardous" drugs and dangerous substances before she died.

Vance’s family says she died from complications from extreme dehydration while in Ohio for the Arnold Sports Festival. Her family posted on her Instagram with a caption expressing their grief.

"She was a beautiful person inside and out and she will be missed every single day. This was sudden and unexpected."

After her death, Justin Mihaly, who coached Vance, revealed that she had used two lethal substances in an attempt to improve her physique. He said she did so without his or her family's knowledge. He said:

"Many people who loved Jodi, including myself, tried to get her to pull off the gas pedal a bit, and anyone who knows Jodi knows how challenging that would be."

According to an article by NBC News, though Mihaly did not say what substances she had consumed, he warned of the dangers of diuretics, a type of drugs that promote urination and decrease the retention of water.

They are often used by bodybuilders before competitions to attain a more chiseled and defined look. But overuse of diuretics can cause serious dehydration, imbalances in electrolytes, and even heart failure.

A look into Justin Mihaly's idea of bodybuilding and fitness

Justin Mihaly, founder of TogetherMore Fitness, has a thriving coaching business serving over 400 athletes around the globe. Mihaly, who hails from a small town in Ohio, relocated to Austin in 2018, where he discovered the perfect space to cultivate his brand.

Founded in 2014, TogetherMore Fitness not only offers competitive bodybuilding coaching, but also general fitness training.

In an interview with Voyage Austin, Mihaly revealed that his journey has not been without challenges, including facing isolation and self-doubt. He said:

"I have often questioned, “Is this worth it?” as the road less traveled gets lonely. It gets isolated from people who don’t quite understand you."

According to Justin Mihaly himself, his fitness philosophy is as much about the mind and emotional state as it is about the physical body, and therefore it sets his services apart from other gyms and coaches.

"Our culture is togetherness, community, and reaching new heights with physical fitness as a pillar of our growth."

A client’s testimonial in 2022 inspired the company slogan, which is “changing lives, not just physiques,” and Mihaly says that holistic development is the focus of their company.