Caroline Manzo Changed Her Diet Before Her Face Lift — And Lost 20 Pounds by Cutting This Food

The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum Caroline Manzo recently announced on her sons' Dear Albie podcast that she'd had a face lift — further explaining the mysterious "surgery" she'd named in a previous Instagram post. While sharing the news, the Manzo'd with Children matriarch also took some time to describe the diet that went hand in hand with her surgery.

Right around the new year, Caroline realized she was "probably the heaviest" weight she'd ever been, having been confined in the house while caring for her toddler granddaughter Markie. 

Realizing that she "was spiraling and going to a bad headspace" — and registering that it was "not good for me" and "not good for the family" — she sought to start with her eating habits as the first place to make a change.

"The first thing I started to take control of was my weight," she said on the podcast.

For Caroline, that means she's "basically a vegetarian now," having axed meat from her diet. As well, she cut out as many carbs as possible, and sugary nonessentials like soda.

As a result of the diet changes — no more meaty, pasta-filled Sunday suppers for the time being — Caroline has dropped a total of 20 pounds and has reached her goal weight. But she definitely remains committed to clean eating, noting that she turned to healthy recipes and cooking inspiration as part of her post-surgery healing time.

Here's how Caroline looks these days: