Teresa Giudice Dissing Lauren Manzo's Lap-Band Surgery "Was Even Worse Than What Was Shown on TV"

USMagazine, Friday, October 5, 2012, 9:00am (PDT)

Most women who appear in Bravo's Real Housewives franchise blame TV editing for making them look worse than they believe themselves to be. In Teresa Giudice's case, it actually made her look better.

During the emotionally charged 13-hour Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion taping at Atlantic City's Borgata hotel September 7, the cookbook author, 40, lashed out at costar Caroline Manzo's daughter, Lauren, 24. Giudice -- mom to Gia, 11, Gabriella, 7, Milania, 6, and Audriana, 3 -- slammed the Cafface owner's decision to get a lap-band procedure.

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"It was even worse than what was shown on TV," an insider tells the new issue of Us Weekly (out now). "She was saying Lauren was lazy."

Some cast members felt the attack was hypocritical, given that Giudice decided to get her own breast augmentation on season 1. The Fabulicious! writer, for her part, stands by her opinion, telling Us, "Lauren has all the time in the world to work out. She took the easy way out."

At her heaviest, Lauren weighed 185 pounds. "I was depressed," she told Us earlier this year. With the support of her parents, she decided to get lap-band surgery, in which a silicone band is placed around the top part of the stomach to control food consumption. (Her father, Albert, had the surgery in 2008.)

"Getting the lap band was the best thing I've done in my life," said Lauren, who exercises two hours a day. "I feel amazing."

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The second episode of the three-part Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion special airs Sunday, October 7, at 10 p.m. EST on Bravo. 

For more details about the reunion and Giudice's dirty secrets -- including accusations of cheating, behind-the-scenes bullying and more -- pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, out now.

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Teresa Giudice Dissing Lauren Manzo's Lap-Band Surgery "Was Even Worse Than What Was Shown on TV"