It seems to be a universal truth that following a diet in order to fit into your skinny jeans is infinitely more motivating than getting psyched for a diet that promotes heart health. Who ever sighs and says, "I wish I had Cameron Diaz's cardiovascular system"? But the great news about eating a heart-healthy diet is that along with reducing your risk of heart disease (the leading cause of death for women), you have the potential to lose weight as well. "For people who are making poor choices in their diet," nutritionist Amy Hendel says, "if all they did was flip their diet to healthier choices, they would see benefits and weight loss, and they wouldn't even need to get into portion control until they were well into their journey." Here's how to make the flip.

1. Cut down on eating foods from a box. Go for whole, natural foods, before they become processed and boxed, by doing most of your shopping in the periphery of the grocery store. Instead of buying boxed foods, go for fruits and vegetables; whole grains in their high-fiber state, before they get processed into white bread; whole grain, high-fiber cereals like bran cereals; and lean cuts of meat without the skin.

2. Eat the right kinds of fat — monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Many women shun fat, thinking they'll lose weight more easily, but the right kind of fat actually has several benefits. It's good for your heart and your waistline, as well as for satiating you at mealtime. You'll find monounsaturated fats in olive, sesame, sunflower and canola oil, plus nuts and avocados. Cook with these oils and sprinkle nuts into your yogurt to get their health benefits, but remember that they are still highly caloric and a little goes a long way. One gram of any kind of oil has nine calories. Polyunsaturated fats are found in fish. Healthy choices include salmon, sardines and tilapia for their omega-3 fatty acids and low mercury count.