lived experience of choosing a healthier lifestyle

This study explored the lived experience of choosing a healthier lifestyle. Using van Manen's methodology for researching lived experience, five participants described their experiences of the phenomenon. Four essential thematic structures were identified: (a) Conscious Choice; (b) Self Discovery; (c) Goals, Expectations, and Benefits; and (d) Validation and Motivation. Three incidental thematic structures were identified: (a) Resources, (b) Events, and (c) Addiction. A descriptive paragraph was written from the significant statements and a metatheme emerged for the phenomenon. The metatheme for the experience of choosing a healthier lifestyle was written as the phenomenological statement: The lived experience of choosing a healthier lifestyle is a conscious choosing of how to be in the world, and the actions taken to fulfill and sustain that desire.