Aspiring Elle Macphersons may already know that sugar, fat and processed foods make you fat and unhealthy. However, there are five other secret ‘fat-pilers’ – ingredients, diets and foods that play a key role in weight gain.

Carb-free liquor – Since all hard liquor is considered to be free of carbohydrates, this was considered to be safe. But, most beers and wines still contain sugar, which is a carbohydrate. So, even a low-carb glass of wine may contain over 100 calories.

Artificial sweeteners – Horrors! Our one last straw to sugary sweetness has been torn out of our clutches! Because our bodies are being deprived of real sugars, we are more likely to eat increased amounts in a search for the sugar our body needs and craves. Obviously, balance is required. Sweeteners are fine if a controlled amount of sugar is included in the diet elsewhere, but cutting sugar out completely is only likely to force us to search for it elsewhere.

The birth-control injection – This injection introduces high levels of progesterone, often causing an increase in appetite. The pill as a contraceptive is less likely to cause weight gain, or as dramatic a gain, as the injection.

Eating out – Eating at restaurants usually means bigger portions of richer foods that we would not ordinarily eat at home. Eating out either needs to be done rarely, or very carefully. Commit to ordering half portions, eating only one course, replacing a main course with a starter, or taking home a doggie-bag.

Missing meals – Eating regular smaller meals throughout the day increases your metabolism and decreases the possibility of binging on something sugary or oily (which is usually the result of an unsteady blood sugar level).

By implementing these small changes into our regime, we create healthy alternatives as lifestyle habits and increase our weight-loss chances dramatically.