WHEN we wake up in the morning and the suns shining, it makes us feel great.

Sunshine boosts our levels of our body's natural happy hormone — serotonin.

This hormone not only makes us feel happier, it also gives us more energy and suppresses our appetite.

Great news for anybody wanting to lose a few pounds for their summer holidays.

We naturally tend to eat less in the summer months than we do in the winter.

Salads are always on the menu in summertime, along with lots of colourful fruit that’s in season.

These lighter, healthier options, which will be naturally lower in calories, will have lots of nutrients and vitamins to make our bodies feel even better.

Eating lighter foods like this will help stop bloating and sluggish feelings.

Being out in the sunshine will increase your vitamin D levels, which will enable you to absorb more nutrients from those healthy foods you eat.

If you struggle with your body’s “want” for foods that may be on your naughty list when the weather’s nice, there’s a few ways you can try to control these cravings.

Try to eat small amounts frequently, including proteins, healthy carbohydrates and healthy fats. This will keep your blood sugar levels steady.

Drink plenty of water, especially when it’s hot as you’ll perspire more. Your body will sometimes mistake thirst for hunger.

Never skip meals. This will only make you eat more later in the day and will make you store more fat.

Lastly, if you crave it, have it! If you crave ice cream, have a small one and enjoy it — but maybe not every day!

Everything is fine in moderation. If you try to fight the “want” for a 99 for too long, you may find you’ve eaten a thousand unnecessary calories on substitutes instead.