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8.Longevity in Real Life: Inside a Peter Attia's Health Assessment with Dr. Daniel Terveen
Have you ever thought more about your retirement account than your “retirement body”? We plan for our financial future, but most of us never get that same level of detail on our health, fitness, and longevity.
In this episode of Inside the Method, Heidi sits down with Dr. Daniel Terveen, an ophthalmologist, father of four, and longevity enthusiast who traveled to Dr. Peter Attia’s clinic. Dr. Terveen walks us through what actually happens during a six-hour longevity assessment—from whole-body MRI and genetic testing to VO₂ max and movement analysis—and how it changed the way he trains, eats, and lives.
They dig into why VO₂ max is such a powerful predictor of healthspan, how to think about false positives on advanced testing, what really matters in body composition, and how Dr. Terveen structures his weekly routine around strength, zone 2 cardio, and recovery. They also touch on nutrition, fasting, sauna and cold exposure, and the handful of supplements he actually believes in (including creatine).
If you’ve ever wondered what a high-end longevity workup looks like—and how to translate that into real-life habits you can actually follow—this episode is your blueprint.
KEY MOMENTS:
(Timestamps are approximate—adjust to your final audio edit.)
00:00 – Welcome to Inside the Method & today’s focus on longevity
02:00 – Meet Dr. Daniel Terveen: ophthalmologist, dad of four & former college athlete
04:30 – Why longevity? Planning for grandkids’ milestones, not just retirement accounts
07:10 – Discovering Dr. Peter Attia through podcasts & evidence-based longevity content
09:05 – Getting into the clinic: what it took to become a patient and book the visit
11:10 – Inside the 6-hour assessment: labs, genetics, whole-body MRI, DEXA, VO₂ max & more
14:45 – The patient experience: hospitality, facilities, and what the day actually felt like
17:20 – VO₂ max testing explained: why treadmill, how the test runs, and what they measure
21:10 – False positives & mental prep: what happens when advanced testing finds “something”
23:40 – Surprising MRI results: early cervical spine arthritis from surgical posture
26:00 – Genetic testing discovery: Factor V Leiden, clot risk & behavior changes for flights
29:00 – Why VO₂ max is king for longevity & how it compares to smoking, diabetes & more
33:00 – Elite VO₂ targets by decade and how Dr. Treveen’s results reshaped his training
35:30 – Norwegian 4x4s: the interval protocol he’s using to push VO₂ max higher
38:20 – How often to train at VO₂ max vs. zone 2 (and why 30-second HIIT isn’t enough)
40:15 – What body composition really means: visceral fat vs. subcutaneous & leg strength
42:30 – A week in the life: Dr. Terveen’s actual training routine (strength, yoga, zone 2, VO₂)
46:20 – Nutrition for longevity: protein targets, sugar reduction & when fasting makes sense
51:10 – Fasting, time-restricted eating & why context (over- vs. undernourished) matters
54:00 – Sauna for health: traditional vs. infrared, dose, and what the research actually shows
58:00 – Cold therapy: what we know, what we don’t, and why he still does cold plunges
1:01:00 – Supplement “big four”: fish oil, vitamin D, magnesium & creatine for body and brain
1:06:00 – Thoughts on greens powders & why micro-dosing 400 ingredients isn’t magic
1:08:30 – Bringing longevity home: launching a multidisciplinary clinic in Sioux Falls
1:11:00 – Final reflections: no shortcuts, why exercise is still the #1 lever for healthspan
STAY CONNECTED:
Connect with Heidi & Inside the Method:
● Instagram: @hjogreenwood
● Website: HeidiGreenMethod.com
Connect with Dr. Daniel Terveen:
● Ophthalmologist & anterior segment surgeon at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, SD
SUPPORT THE SHOW:
If something in today’s episode sparked a new idea for how you want to age, please share it with a friend, family member, or training partner who’s on their own longevity journey. You can also leave a quick review to help more people find Inside the Method.
Your time and attention here truly mean so much.
Remember: longevity isn’t built in one big overhaul—it’s created one intentional workout, one nourishing meal, and one small choice at a time.
View all episodes
By hjogreenwoodHave you ever thought more about your retirement account than your “retirement body”? We plan for our financial future, but most of us never get that same level of detail on our health, fitness, and longevity.
In this episode of Inside the Method, Heidi sits down with Dr. Daniel Terveen, an ophthalmologist, father of four, and longevity enthusiast who traveled to Dr. Peter Attia’s clinic. Dr. Terveen walks us through what actually happens during a six-hour longevity assessment—from whole-body MRI and genetic testing to VO₂ max and movement analysis—and how it changed the way he trains, eats, and lives.
They dig into why VO₂ max is such a powerful predictor of healthspan, how to think about false positives on advanced testing, what really matters in body composition, and how Dr. Terveen structures his weekly routine around strength, zone 2 cardio, and recovery. They also touch on nutrition, fasting, sauna and cold exposure, and the handful of supplements he actually believes in (including creatine).
If you’ve ever wondered what a high-end longevity workup looks like—and how to translate that into real-life habits you can actually follow—this episode is your blueprint.
KEY MOMENTS:
(Timestamps are approximate—adjust to your final audio edit.)
00:00 – Welcome to Inside the Method & today’s focus on longevity
02:00 – Meet Dr. Daniel Terveen: ophthalmologist, dad of four & former college athlete
04:30 – Why longevity? Planning for grandkids’ milestones, not just retirement accounts
07:10 – Discovering Dr. Peter Attia through podcasts & evidence-based longevity content
09:05 – Getting into the clinic: what it took to become a patient and book the visit
11:10 – Inside the 6-hour assessment: labs, genetics, whole-body MRI, DEXA, VO₂ max & more
14:45 – The patient experience: hospitality, facilities, and what the day actually felt like
17:20 – VO₂ max testing explained: why treadmill, how the test runs, and what they measure
21:10 – False positives & mental prep: what happens when advanced testing finds “something”
23:40 – Surprising MRI results: early cervical spine arthritis from surgical posture
26:00 – Genetic testing discovery: Factor V Leiden, clot risk & behavior changes for flights
29:00 – Why VO₂ max is king for longevity & how it compares to smoking, diabetes & more
33:00 – Elite VO₂ targets by decade and how Dr. Treveen’s results reshaped his training
35:30 – Norwegian 4x4s: the interval protocol he’s using to push VO₂ max higher
38:20 – How often to train at VO₂ max vs. zone 2 (and why 30-second HIIT isn’t enough)
40:15 – What body composition really means: visceral fat vs. subcutaneous & leg strength
42:30 – A week in the life: Dr. Terveen’s actual training routine (strength, yoga, zone 2, VO₂)
46:20 – Nutrition for longevity: protein targets, sugar reduction & when fasting makes sense
51:10 – Fasting, time-restricted eating & why context (over- vs. undernourished) matters
54:00 – Sauna for health: traditional vs. infrared, dose, and what the research actually shows
58:00 – Cold therapy: what we know, what we don’t, and why he still does cold plunges
1:01:00 – Supplement “big four”: fish oil, vitamin D, magnesium & creatine for body and brain
1:06:00 – Thoughts on greens powders & why micro-dosing 400 ingredients isn’t magic
1:08:30 – Bringing longevity home: launching a multidisciplinary clinic in Sioux Falls
1:11:00 – Final reflections: no shortcuts, why exercise is still the #1 lever for healthspan
STAY CONNECTED:
Connect with Heidi & Inside the Method:
● Instagram: @hjogreenwood
● Website: HeidiGreenMethod.com
Connect with Dr. Daniel Terveen:
● Ophthalmologist & anterior segment surgeon at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, SD
SUPPORT THE SHOW:
If something in today’s episode sparked a new idea for how you want to age, please share it with a friend, family member, or training partner who’s on their own longevity journey. You can also leave a quick review to help more people find Inside the Method.
Your time and attention here truly mean so much.
Remember: longevity isn’t built in one big overhaul—it’s created one intentional workout, one nourishing meal, and one small choice at a time.