Lauren Manzo is a former reality TV star who appeared on The Real Housewives of New Jersey and its spin-off, Manzo’d with Children. She is the daughter of Caroline Manzo, one of the original cast members of RHONJ. Lauren owns a beauty salon called Cafface Beauty Bar and is married to Vito Scalia, with whom she has a daughter named Marchesa.
Lauren has struggled with her weight for a long time and has tried various diets and methods to lose it.
She even underwent lap band surgery in 2012, but later had it removed.
She recently revealed that she lost 80 pounds in total, thanks to a combination of dietary changes, exercise, and a type 2 diabetes drug called Mounjaro.
How Lauren Manzo Changed Her Diet
Lauren said that she started her weight loss journey by consulting a functional medicine doctor, who put her on a gluten-free and dairy-free diet.
She said that this diet helped her lose 50 pounds and improved her health and mood.
She also said that she learned to eat more mindfully and listen to her body’s signals.
“I’m not starving myself. I’m not depriving myself,” she said on Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast. “I’m just eating what makes me feel good and what makes me happy.”
How Lauren Manzo Used Mounjaro for Weight Loss
Lauren said that after losing 50 pounds with her diet, she hit a plateau and couldn’t lose any more weight.
That’s when her doctor suggested Mounjaro, a prescription medication for people with type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro is a brand name for tirzepatide, which works by reducing appetite and improving how the body breaks down sugar and fat.
It is similar to Ozempic, another type 2 diabetes drug that has been popular among celebrities for weight loss.
Lauren said that she started taking Mounjaro in February 2023 and lost 30 pounds since then.
She said that the drug has helped her overcome her food cravings and feel more satisfied with smaller portions.
She also said that the drug has made her mentally healthier and happier.
“I understand that people don’t like it, people don’t applaud it, people aren’t whatever, but it’s a shot in your stomach once a week, it’s the same as Ozempic,” she said.
“You guys have seen the struggle with this since I’m 20 years old, and it’s been really hard for me.”
She added that she was “considered morbidly obese” at 280 pounds and that she needed the drug to help her lose weight.
She also slammed some of the Housewives who use Ozempic for weight loss even though they are “already skinny”.
“I feel like there have been times that I’ve been on the brink of an eating disorder or had issues myself,” she said.
“And this is the one thing — even above weight loss surgery — that has helped me a lot and cured me and mentally made me so much better. And I’m really grateful for it.”
How Lauren Manzo Feels About Her Weight Loss
Lauren said that she feels amazing and proud of how far she has come with her weight loss.
She said that she doesn’t even recognize herself in her old photos and that she feels like herself again.
“I’m feel amazing and happy to feel like ‘Me’ again,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I don’t even know that girl on the left & i’m proud of how far I’ve come!”
She also thanked her fans for their support and encouragement.
She said that she would share more details about her weight loss journey in a video soon.
“Thank you all for your kind words and support,” she wrote. “I’m so grateful for all of you!”
