Teresa Giudice will be "a whole new person" once she is released from custody and back home with her family sometime around Christmas.

Attorney James Leonard Jr. tells E! News his client, incarcerated for 15 months at the Danbury Correctional Facility on bank fraud-related charges, has spent her time transforming herself into someone "rock-hard mentally, physically and emotionally."

Leonard added that "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star has also been working herself into great physical shape, leaving her more than a little proud of her newfound abs.

"When she comes home, people are going to be surprised," he added. "It's a whole new Teresa coming home."

And it's a whole new world that awaits her. Soon after she is released, husband Joe is slated to begin serving out his 41-month sentence on similar charges. Several media outlets have reported Teresa is set for a return to "Real Housewives" and is slated to be paid as much as $2 million per season. Reports are producers have delayed filming for the new season in hopes of being able to feature her in more of the scenes.

"I think she's going to take it one day at a time, but her focus is, 'I want to get back to my freedom, I want to get back to my husband, I want to get back to my parents, my children, and then kind of take it as it goes,'" said Leonard. "But I expect that you'll be seeing her shortly after she comes home."

Teresa and Joe may also have a few issues of their own to work out, as rumors have persisted Joe has been spending quite a bit of time with other women while his wife has been away. Joe has denied being romantically involved with any of the women.