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Cut the B.S.: The Game Changers Review

Yum

January 10, 2020 By Laura Ligos, MBA, RD, CSSD Leave a Comment

Ok, I know I am late to the game here (pun intended) but I wanted to let the dust settle and let us all get acclimated to the New Year. If you are not aware, there was a documentary that was released last year on Netflix called “The Game Changers” and it made big waves in the nutrition and health industry. As you probably know I have opinions on most everything that graces its presence in the nutrition world, so let me give you The Game Changers Review from my sassy brain, hold on tight. 

What is The Game Changers Documentary?

If you’ve been living under a rock OR you just don’t live and die by every last nutrition news article that comes out (serisouly, good on ya!), the documentary The Game Changers came out last September (2019) and it made almost everyone I talked to who had watched it (minus my Sassy Warriors) want to go “plant-based” or should I say Vegan immediately.

Now, this is not going to be a hate on Vegans article so calm it down already, I have plenty of clients who live a Vegan lifestyle and never once have I turned them away.  Let me first say, I respect your decision as a human being to eat however you see fit for YOU. What I do not resepect is fear mongering nutrition advice that is not evidence based and is more for propaganda than education. 

The Game Changers documentary is all about how top athletes have switched to a “plant-based” (anytime you read this phrase or hear it in this documentary, read: vegan) diet and have seen not only improved health but also improved performance as a result. The documentary follows many  (vegan-based) doctors and health professionals as well as athletes and other unsuspecting and uneducated humans they deemed fit for this documentary using “science” and “reasearch” (i use quotations heavily here) to show why a “plant-based” (once again, read: vegan) is superior to any and all diets. 

Plant-Based Diet 

Ok, before I give my full review of this documentary, let’s back up for one moment. I was introduced to the word “plant-based” almost 2 years ago now. When I first heard it I thought nothing of it. I thought “huh, I’m plant based because I eat a ton of fruits and vegetables.” End thought. Then, all of a sudden I was seeing and hearing the word EVERYWHERE. I even went to a “plant-based” event only to find out that plant-based ACTUALLY was code for Vegan or at least mostly Vegan diet/lifestyle.

Once, again, not hating on vegans I have clients and friends that choose that lifestyle. My issue with plant-based is that it has been used as a way to re-invent veganism. Ever heard the phrase “you can polish a turd but it’s still a turd.” Yeah, so that’s what we have going on here. 

the game changers

Why I hate this phrase? It makes those of us who are plant-based or as I’ve heard someone say “plant-forward” not worthy of calling ourselves that if we choose to eat animal products. We no longer can use the phrase because it’s either all or nothing. If you know anything about me or my way of educating nutrition, all or nothing is a no go for me. 

Sassy’s The Game Changers Review

Fun fact, I actually sat down with a local trainer and discussed my thoughts on The Game Changers, check that out here if you prefer video content. I have been waiting to give my review because I wanted to gather enough data AND make sure I was listening to both sides. However, I can tell you, sitting down to watch this documentary was PAINFUL. I have gone through a ton of schooling as well as worked with so many clients and know that nutrition is NOT black or white and it is not as matter of fact as this documentary would have you believe. Not to mention when you see the names James Cameron, Arnold Schwazzeneger and Jackie Chan you can’t help but chuckle, would you EVER sign up to get nutrition coaching for producers, directors or actors?!!? NO! So then why would you allow them to coerce you via a documentary? 

Just saying.

Anywho, there was a lot wrong with this documentary. They had a lot of hokie “science” and “research” and I think they spent far too much time on the things they think people want to hear instead of what they need to hear.

Sassy’s Fact Check

Let’s get into some of the points of the documentary that need a little clarification: 

  • Gladiators were plant-based. Okay, first of all, we have evolved since those days and we live FAR longer. Not to mention the article they mention basically state in the research article that the gladiator diets were mixed and also inconclusive:

    “First, the dietary plant-to-meat ratio approach experienced a major correction by Burton and Wright. They showed that Sr/Ca ratios in bone reflect the Sr/Ca ratio of the strongest Ca supplier rather than the whole plant-to-meat ratio of a multicomponent diet. This limits future Sr/Ca studies to identifying the major Ca source of the diet.”

    “This leads to the conclusion that the individuals from the gladiator cemetery were a very heterogeneous group who consumed different kind of foods.”

  • Animal-based diets cause cloudy plasma. OKAY, first of all, duh, second of all we know that a higher saturated-fat diet can cause higher lipids in the blood. What they fail to mention is how you could STILL consume animal products and reduce saturated-fats ahem fish.

  • Humans aren’t meant to consume dairy. This is a HUGE debate too big for a short documentary. Check out Alan Aragon’s commentary on it. Also, the QUALITY of dairy should be mentioned as well as the phrase “it depends.”
  • Male erections are improved with a plant-based diet. Well if this isn’t a Hollywood ploy I don’t know what is. What male (or female for that matter) wouldn’t be excited (pun intended) by this “Evidence”. Let’s make a HUGE note here, that the study of 2 males over 2 nights is not scientifically sound enough to prove ANYTHING. There are so many factors going into this (hello quality of diet prior to plant-based as well as placebo effect). Yes, science has shown elevated serum cholesterol may impact male ED but it does not show that a plant-based (read: vegan diet) is the solution. Men, you can still eat meat. End rant.
  • Enviromental Impact. Once again this is FAR TOO BIG of a debate to be casually mentioned in a documentary where clearly they are biased AF. 
  • Vegan no matter what (i.e. eat vegan processed food over animal foods). This is ridiciulous on so many accounts. If you are going to go vegan for health reasons, by all means, processed chicken-less nuggets are not in fact going to give you the same results that fresh fruit and veggies will, see the research here. 

There’s also many other facts that need checking in this movie but the above ones made me cringe, so that is all I will leave you with. 

Sassy’s Verdict

Okay, here’s the thing, you’re going to be inundated with many new nutrition concepts this year, that I cannot change. What I can change is how you approach and respond to those nutrition concepts. 

Be a healthy skpetic AND trust your own body. If you cannot do either of those,hire a professional, that’s what we are here for.

As far as what my verdict is on The Game Changers Documentary? Here are my major takeaways:

  • Absolutely eat more plants (doesn’t almost EVERY diet tell you that though?!).
  • Subjective anectodal evidence should not be deemed as scientific evidence and recommendations for the public
  • Be responsible with the protein that you eat. I’m not sure why this was NEVER brought up but we owe it to ourselves and our planet to look into the quality of the food we are consuming. Check out Diana Rodgers for some excellent information on this. 
  • Find balance in your diet and what works for YOU. End of story. 
  • Elite Athetes are going to rise to the top (with grit–read this book) regardless of diet–and that’s coming from the mouth of a dietitian
  • Stop watching documentaries funded by Hollywood Directors and Big Wigs. You wouldn’t trust them to fix your teeth so why let them tell you how to eat?

Verdict: Eat more plants, focus on the quality of your animal consumption, stop watching biased documentaries and seek help (when needed) from an expert. 

Resources & Reviews

If you want to check out some others in the field (I will add more as I find them) that I respect and trust to delve deeper into their The Game Changers Review, check them out here:

Abby Langer, Dietitian 

Alan Aragon

Chris Kresser on Joe Rogan

Kelly Jones, Dietitian

Layne North

The goal of all of this is to give you the information you need to make the best decision for yourself. You are, afterall, the CEO of your body and at the end of the day you get to decide what you do and do not eat. Remember that everyone is different so some people may very well benefit from a vegan lifestyle while others may benefit from a more meat-based diet. There is no one size fits all and if you believe that you have not spent enough time deep diving into the food and nutrition space. 

Feel free to comment below with any questions you have or other topics you would like me to break down next! 

xoxo,

Sassy

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Pin Now, Change Games Later

the game changers review

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@thesassydietitian

We’ve made it over a week together and it feels We’ve made it over a week together and it feels like it’s always been this way.

Motherhood is a wild ride & it’s only getting started. I have never been so tired & simultaneously so fulfilled in my life. That’s not to say it’s not filled with tears, worries and doubts but what fun would it be if it were all sunshine and roses anyway?

Going into this all I have felt so supported by friends going through this with me BUT I felt so unsupported by the general public. It seems like we want to fear and shame moms because misery loves company, right?!

The focus quickly shifts from mom to baby (still shocked that I only have an appointment at 6 weeks even though my body went through the biggest event of its life) and there also seems to be this shift from joy to shame & guilt.

Here’s some of what I heard from people:

😕Sleep when baby sleeps. You’ll never sleep again.
😕Don’t let baby sleep in a car seat, or a bouncer, or anywhere but their crib EVER. 
😕You’ll never have time to shower again, enjoy it now. 
😕Cry it out is cruel and harmful to the baby. 
😕Get baby on a schedule/never put baby on a schedule.

These are all things I heard and that truly led me to believe I was going to lose all sense of who I was and my life as I knew it.

What I wish people had said instead were:

🥰Your heart will grow bigger than you could imagine.
🥰You’ll cry the happiest tears you’ve ever cried.
🥰You’ll feel like a giant hole was filled that you didn’t even know was there.
🥰You won’t feel guilty about cleaning your house, it just won’t matter anymore.
🥰Babies pooping will make you laugh so hard you will feel like a kid again.
🥰You will have time to eat and shower and you don’t have to neglect yourself.

We need to do a better job of building each other up, supporting one another and our decisions while refraining from offering unsolicited advice and opinions. 

So for all you future mamas and new mamas out there, I see you, I’m proud of you and I cannot wait to share our stories with one another and the world.

Let’s stop fear mongering (just like the diet world) and start building one another up.

Xoxo,
Sassy & lil sassy man
🌈Some things truly are worth the wait. It’s b 🌈Some things truly are worth the wait. It’s been a long year of loss, unknowns and worry but it’s all been worth it to get to meet my lil man🥰
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Now time to introduce this sassy human who is already so well loved to the world...
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Introducing 

💙 Connor James Ligos 💙
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After an almost 24 hour labor, Connor joined us over a week past his due date on 2/12/21 at a whopping 9lb2oz & 22.5 inches long with a full head of hair and lungs to scream hello to us with.
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We are so in love already and cannot wait to share him with the world. Thank you for all the love and support from friends and family and to all those that helped us in the hospital. Holy cow labor & delivery teams are truly magical and I cannot imagine doing it without all of their support.
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Now back to snuggling this human of mine and trying not to cry at every last thing he does 🥰 
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Mom, Dad & Bode are all doing well!
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#babyboy #pregnancyafterloss #rainbowbaby #birthdayboy #birthannouncement
I get it, we all eat so we all then want to talk t I get it, we all eat so we all then want to talk to others about what worked for us. That's great!
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What's not great is when we push our nutrition and eating behaviors onto others ESPECIALLY when we are not qualified to do so.
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So often when people meet me for the first time they are worried to eat around me and/or buy groceries around me. My friends can attest I am not judgemental around food and will gladly eat that cake, queso dip or sip on that glass of wine right alongside of you. I am not the food police and do not offer unsolicited nutrition advice unless it's a client who is paying for my help OR on Instagram and other social media platforms where my goal is to educate.
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Why do I share this? 
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Because I see far too many people diving down diet rabbit holes, finding success & then claiming to be nutrition experts purely because something worked for them. 
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I've also seen this alot being pregnant, everyone wants to tell you what worked for them. IF you use that stipulation of "this worked for me" then fine, share away but if you start doleing out advice please pause, take a breath and think about NOT doing it.
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People are OVERWHELMED by diet culture and some so badly want to change but YOUR way is not the only way and it most likely is not what will work for your friend/coworker/cousin/neighbor so please, stop trying to be an expert in something you aren't.
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Got it!?! 
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Ok, carry on.
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xoxo,
Sassy
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#nutrition #nutritiontips #nutritionist #dietitianapproved #rdapproved #rdchat #dietitiansofinstagram #dietitian #dietitiansofig #albanyny #albanynutrition #albanynutrition
Your nutrition does NOT need to be all or nothing. Your nutrition does NOT need to be all or nothing. I'm not saying you have to find perfect balance (does that even exist?) but I am saying that we shouldn't feel like either we have to eat perfectly or that we might as well give up.
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Instead we should look to the grey area in between for our nutrition guidance. 
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What do I mean?
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I mean that we need to realize that we can still eat cookies but we probably should throw some veggies in there. 
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We can have a glass or 2 of wine but we should probably also drink some water. 
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We can take rest days but we should also find ways to move our bodies regularly.
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And the list goes on.
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It's not about all or nothing it's about doing something daily to help your health and nutrition without it feeling like a set of rules or a free for all.
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How do we find that grey area in between?
👉🏻 stop hopping on and off fad diets
👉🏻listen and trust your self, not your coworkers and cousins 
👉🏻focus on the simple things (ie drinking water instead of worrying about supplements)
👉🏻work to remove guilt and shame around food & body
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Where do you currently fall Right now?!
🤪 all
👍🏻in between 
🙅🏻‍♀️ nothing 
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Xoxo,
Sassy
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#dietitian #dietitiansofig #dietitiansofinstagram #nutrition #nutritionist #nutritiontips #thesassydietitian #rdchat #realtalk

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