AY Magazine Feature
In the July 2026 issue of AY Magazine, writer Mark Carter interviewed health professionals across Arkansas about healthy aging, featuring Marina Ivanovsky, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, founder of Marina Lifestyle Medicine in Little Rock. Marina shared clinical guidance on how men over 50 can protect muscle mass, support testosterone balance, and improve metabolic vitality through targeted lifestyle medicine.
Marina focused on the nutritional side of preserving muscle:
Nutritional Priorities: Protein and Metabolic Function
Addressing dietary priorities for aging men, Marina explained that nutrition must actively counter the age-related loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia):
“From a nutrition standpoint, the focus should be on preserving muscle mass, bone health, energy, cardiovascular health and metabolic function. One of the most important dietary priorities is adequate protein intake. Most mature men should aim for approximately 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.”
Marina Ivanovsky, MSN, APRN, FNP-C • AY Magazine
She pointed to lean protein sources like fish, poultry, eggs, Greek yogurt, and legumes, and advised cutting back on ultra-processed foods and alcohol.
Exercise and the Centenarian Olympics
Asked about exercise routines, Marina emphasized consistency and strength training:
“The most effective exercise is the one a person enjoys and will do consistently. That said, a well-rounded fitness program for mature men should include four key components: strength training, cardiovascular fitness, balance and mobility. Resistance training is particularly important because it helps preserve muscle mass, maintain bone density, improve metabolic health and support independence as we age. As one longevity physician likes to say, we should all be training for the 'Centenarian Olympics' (developing the strength, balance and endurance needed to remain active and capable throughout life).”
Marina Ivanovsky, MSN, APRN, FNP-C • AY Magazine
She recommended two to four strength workouts a week, daily walking, and mobility work.
Hormone Changes and Testosterone Decline
Men experience a gradual hormone decline rather than a sudden drop. For patients managing low vitality, muscle loss, or slower recovery, Marina Lifestyle Medicine provides specialized Men's Wellness protocols and individualized bioidentical hormone rebalancing (BHRT). In the feature, Marina outlined how that shift typically unfolds:
“There is no specific age at which a man's body begins to break down. Aging occurs gradually and varies significantly from one individual to another. Testosterone levels generally decline by approximately 1 percent per year after age 30. By age 70, average testosterone levels may be 30 to 50 percent lower than they were in early adulthood. In addition to hormonal changes, aging is associated with gradual losses in muscle mass and strength, slower recovery, and an increase in body fat.”
Marina Ivanovsky, MSN, APRN, FNP-C • AY Magazine
Asked how men should respond, Marina pointed back to daily habits:
“The advice is simple but not easy: Improve your lifestyle. By that, I mean committing to regular resistance training, consuming adequate protein, prioritizing quality sleep, managing stress, limiting alcohol and addressing underlying medical conditions. These habits may not stop aging, but they can dramatically improve both lifespan and, more importantly, health span: the number of years spent living well.”
Marina Ivanovsky, MSN, APRN, FNP-C • AY Magazine
These foundational habits align directly with clinically supervised metabolic care, such as our medical weight loss programs, helping men preserve metabolically active muscle tissue while targeting visceral abdominal fat.
Men's Health Services at Our Clinic
Marina Lifestyle Medicine provides diagnostic evaluations and care plans tailored for men:
Men's Wellness Protocols
Metabolic evaluations, cardiovascular health assessments, and vitality plans.
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Hormone testing and BHRT to address fatigue, muscle loss, and recovery.
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Prescription weight management that targets visceral fat while preserving lean muscle.
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