Women's Fitness
Kodi talks about her fitness journey, motivation, and how she stays positive despite online criticism.
Born in Melbourne with a pro bodybuilder for a mum and one of Australia’s most enigmatic entrepreneurs for a dad, 22-year-old Kodi is no stranger to hard work and hustle. This self-confessed city girl sat down to chat to us about all things family, finding motivation and what fitness means to her.
Q. Your Mum was a pro bodybuilder – did her achievements inspire you when it came to starting your own fitness journey?
My mum definitely has a significant role to play in my fitness journey. Seeing her win so many competitions has inspired me to be the best version of myself.
Q. I love how empowered and badass I feel after lifting weights. How has training influenced your approach to body image and self-confidence?
I have definitely struggled with body image and have had many ups and downs over the years, but since I started weight training, I have felt so much more empowered and confident in myself.
Q. Do you have a morning routine that you swear by?
My morning routine isn’t rocket science. As soon as I wake up, I drink some water, check my phone and have a nice warm shower. I then have my pre-workout and head to the gym. I always have something to eat before weight training so I can perform.
Q. Talk us through your weekly training split.
I train five days a week and allow my body to have two days rest in between to grow and repair my muscles. Following a program using progressive overload is definitely the best way to see the most potential (not random workouts) – I have two upper-body days and three leg days.
Q. How do you stay motivated on days when you don’t feel like working out?
I definitely have days where I don’t want to go to the gym. We all do – it’s normal! But that’s where knowing “your why” is so important. I think of my mum and the challenges she faced to get where she was, and that gives me the motivation I need – I aspire to be as fit as her!
Q. If you’re not in activewear at the gym, where can we find you and what are you most likely to be doing?
I’m usually always in activewear! But on the rare occasion I’m not, I’ll most likely be catching up with family or friends. I love doing fun activities, and I definitely love getting dressed up to go to dinners. I always enjoy taking good photos – you need to collect those memories.
Q. We live in an age of social media where people have more access than ever to our lives and are quick to judge. How do you handle negative comments or criticism online and in real life?
I’m really lucky that my parents always taught me not to give importance to negative comments; people will always say what they’re going to say, you just have to continue doing you.
Q. Success means different things to different people. What does it mean to you, and what would you consider your greatest achievement so far – personal or professional?
I personally think that you’re winning in life if your health is good, you have a roof over your head and you have the right circle of friends. To me, success means that you’re happy.
Q. What self-care strategies do you use to maintain positive mental health?
Life can be hard, and I think that everyone deals with some form of mental health challenge at one stage or another, but all you can do is push forward. I’m a huge fan of using positive self-talk, and I find that starting your day off with acknowledging something that you’re grateful for, even if it’s a small thing, can be a huge help.
Q. I’m a Bulgarian Split Squat girl. If you could only do one exercise for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Ah, I love Bulgarians. They’re definitely a killer! But squats on the Smith Machine is definitely my favourite when it comes to growing my glutes.
Q. What’s a fitness myth that you wish would go away, and why?
I’m afraid I have to disagree with the notion that that ‘weights make you bulky’ – I wish more women would understand that the weights room is actually the perfect place to achieve an hourglass body and build both strength and shape. I also think that we need to move away from thinking that to get results, you have to train hard every day – recovery is just as important as training.
Q. What is your approach to nutrition? How do you maintain balance and still enjoy your favourite foods?
If I’m in a fat loss phase, I have to be in a calorie deficit BUT for the most part, as long as I stay within the recommended guidelines, I can still enjoy all the foods I love in moderation. I definitely make sure that I have a cheat meal every week!
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
To be myself and always be kind to people. You never know what anyone could be going through. My life motto is “do good, and good will come back to you.”
Q. You’re working out in the gym – what are you listening to?
I feel like a good pop song always makes my workout better!
Q. What’s next for you?
Childhood me would be kicking myself if she knew that I would have this incredible opportunity with Women’s Fitness one day, and obviously I would love to do some more covers in the future! But outside of that, I just want to continue to learn and grow in the world of fitness.
Photography: Rosanna Faraci
Interview: Alexa Towersey
Hair and Make-up: Kamor make-up
Location: Derrimut 24:7 Gym, Oakleigh, Victoria
For the full article grab the August/September 2024 issue of Women’s Fitness Australia from Woolworths, Coles, newsagents and convenience locations.
