I grew up just outside of Chicago, so I’m all too familiar with bitter-cold winters, but I’ve been out of the icy cold winter season for years since we moved to Florida in 2003. Now I’m in North Carolina and anticipating my first real winter in 11 years. It’s time to bundle up, baby!
Knowing that my coldest winter in years is on the horizon, I took some time to brainstorm ways to remain active during the winter months to share as part of Columbia’s new initiative. I’d love to hear some of your ideas, too!
Tips for Staying Active During the Winter
- Keep At Home Workout Options On Hand
When it’s cold outside, there will inevitably be days that we won’t want to leave the comfort of a warm and cozy house. That’s when at home workouts come into play! Build a small collection workout DVDs, check out free fitness channels on YouTube or browse Pinterest for lots of at home workout ideas! If you happen to have an Amazon Prime membership, you can find tons of free workouts there as well!
- Bundle Up and Take Your Workout Outside
Even during the cold months, there are still tons of ways you can stay active outside. Grab a coat and have fun skiing, snowshoeing, building snowmen or snow forts and sledding. If it’s cold but there isn’t any snow on the ground, check out an indoor ice skating rink for some winter fun or bundle up and head out on a long hike!
Some new sure-to-keep-you-warm winter apparel favorites from Columbia:
I first had the chance to put Columbia’s famous TurboDown jacket to the test during a ski trip to Park City back in January and walked away raving about the heat-retaining powers of the Omni-Heat insulation (SO impressed!) and the lightweight yet incredibly warm down.
The silver lining you see is the Omni-Heat thermal reflective technology at work! The inside of the jacket is lined with tons of metallic microdots that reflect your own body heat back to you, making it 20 percent warmer than a normal liner. Sounds crazy, but after trying it out in Park City, I am a believer!
Another feature I somehow never hear people talk about that seriously impressed me is the way the TurboDown jackets can fold up and take up minimal space in a suitcase. When I think of down jackets, I always think of gigantic puffy coats that take up tons of space, but this jacket is somehow extremely lightweight and small but still incredibly warm.
In the winter months, warm feet = Happy feet! Columbia’s Minx Boots first caught my eye when I saw the company’s social media guru wearing them in Park City so I was quite excited to try a pair myself! I opted for the Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print because I wanted a pair of boots I could easily pull on and off to take me to and from the gym during the winter, but I also wanted a waterproof boot I could wear on cold weather hikes.
These boots fit the bill and I love the fun print and cushioned sole. Plus, I have a feeling the Omni-Grip will come in handy when it gets icy outside or when I am hiking and need a good grip to keep me from sliding all over the trails.
- Participate in a Winter Workout Challenge (or Create Your Own!)
Sometimes a little friendly competition (even if its only with ourselves!) is all we need to get motivated to work up a sweat. Many gyms offer winter workout challenges but if you cannot find a fun challenge near you, reach out to some friends and create your own. Pick a prize that will motivate you (a new workout outfit, perhaps?) and make it a goal to work up a sweat four to five times a week. Support each other and hold each other accountable!
- Try a New Workout Class or Sign Up for a Local Running Club
Trying something new can do wonders when it comes to reigniting our love for fitness. Try taking a new workout class at your gym or sign up for a class you’ve never tried before at a local studio. (If the cold has your spirits at an all-time low, look for a hot yoga class to warm you up!) If you miss your summertime outdoor workouts, research local running clubs. Most running clubs meet up during the winter months, too!
- Train for a Race or Competition
There’s no denying the fact that having a goal makes it a little easier to commit to a fitness routine. By signing up for a race or local competition (look for indoor triathlons and CrossFit competitions), you’ll have a training plan to follow which may motivate you to stick to your workouts when curling up on the couch sounds more appealing.
Columbia Giveaway
And now it’s time for a winter giveaway! I have a feeling most of you out there are hoping to remain active through the winter months, so I’d love to send one reader their own Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket and another reader a pair of Minx boots in the style of their choice.
If you’re hoping to win the jacket, simply comment below and tell me which color you’d like from the options offered: Red (the one I have), purple, black or silver.
If you’re hoping to win the boots, let me know which style you like best! (You may see the 10 different style options of the Minx boots here.)
Or, if you don’t care which prize you win and are equally interested in both the jacket and the boots, tell me about some of your favorite *active* things to do during the winter months or some of the ways you motivate yourself to stay active in the winter.
I will randomly select two winners on Friday!
Good luck!
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Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Columbia through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Columbia outerwear, all opinions are my own. The giveaway portion of this post is not sponsored and I will personally be buying the winners’ prizes and mailing them to the winners. Good luck!
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I would LOVE to win the Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket in RED! it’s so cute!
The Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket looks so warm and comfortable! I definitely need a warm winter jacket after the crazy cold winter we had last year in Maryland! The black color is my favorite.
I love both the jacket and the boots!! We love to stay active in the winter by going on hikes when we can, and if weather doesn’t permit we break out the wii fit and do a little hula hoop competition haha
The purple jacket. I love that color!
Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot in Shale! I have a puppy that I love to take out in the winter but havent found a good pair of boots yet for the Nebraska weather!!
LOVE the red jacket!!
I love the bright red coat!
I prefer taller boots, that go up to my knees so I would choose the the Minx Mid II boot. And I need no motivation to exercise during winter as I get hot easily so the weather works in my favor!
Silver
I think the tradewinds grey jacket is perfect! I especially like that it is waterproof in addition to being warm. I spend a lot of time outside in the winter running, skiing, snowshoeing, and more.
The pull on omni heat boots with the print are so cute!!!! I would love to have these to keep warm in the winter! 🙂
What a great giveaway!! I would love the jacket in red or black!
I would love the black one! I get cold so easily!
I would love the Minx Mid II Omni Heat boot in Shale… they would be great to have when playing in the snow with the boys!
I love the black jacket! I try to embrace the cold weather and just bundle up during morning runs!
I love both the jacket and the boots! I need to get some for myself. In the winter, I love to take my dogs for hikes, as long as it’s not too cold for them. I do love to bundle up and go for a run as well. If I can’t (or don’t want to) get outside, my favorite indoor activities are spin class, Body Pump, and HIIT/Crossfit-ish workouts. 🙂
I LOVE the Minx Mid II boots in black. So cute!
A warm jacket and boots are essential for walking my dog in the winter. I love the black or purple jacket and the minx mid boots in black!
I’m hoping to run my first half-marathon in April, so there will for sure be some cold runs outside this winter! I would love that Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket in Black. It looks so warm and cozy for the New Jersey winter!
Skiing is my favorite winter activity! It would be great to have this purple coat to keep me warm.
I love the MinX Shorty Omni-Heat Print in red. They look practical for cold weather and stylish!
I would love either the boots or the jacket. I try to stay active in the winter with my boys who have already been talking about sled riding. I’m so not ready for talk of snow yet.
I love the Jacket and the boots!!
In the winter months I like to stay active by setting goals to keep me accountable. I pick a spring race to train for and find friends to take the running outside whenever possible. It’s also a great time of year to get into a group fitness routine!
the tall boots for sure!! i keep up my running in the winter!
I love the jacket and the boots! My dogs are allowed at our local beach in the winter so my boyfriend and I love to bundle up and take our (not-so) athletic terriers for a beach adventure.
I love, love, love the light brown colored Columbia’s Minx Boots that you chose! We are heading to NYC for Thanksgiving and these would be the perfect boots to keep my toes warm walking mile and miles around the city! Best winter workout = city hiking!!
I think liking winter is a must here in Montana….you get super bored otherwise. I love skiing and snowshoeing. Either prize would get put to good use this winter in my neck of the woods.
I would love a new winter coat! I live in Indiana so having a coat that can easily be folded up and packed in a bag is really nice since on any given day we can experience 3 different seasons. I would choose the silver color!
I love the red coat!! Red is one of my favorite colors
I’d love to win the jacket in black!
I would LOVE a pair of the mid length boots! We Canadians suffer through brutal winters with heavy snow and ice. They would definitely be put to good use!
I absolutely love the red jacket! It’s such a great color!
I bundle up and run in the cold!!!! I love love love the boots you have!!
I would LOVE the purple jacket!!
I love to bundle up and take a brisk walk!
Love the jacket in purple!
I love the purple jacket!
I would looovvvveeee the Red one!! looks super cute!
I love the boots you picked! The pull on omni print pattern is so cute and makes the cold a little less drab. 🙂
I would love the jacket in red!
I LOVE the pull on omni heat print like yours. Those are SO cute and super versatile! I desperately need some new boots before it gets cold.
I love the boots you highlighted- minx pull on omni-heat! Super cute and would be great for walks with our new puppy!!! I know staying active in winter just takes getting outside, once I am out running I actually ENJOY the cold:)
My favorite activity in the winter is getting all bundled up and walking outside with my dog (also bundled up in a little sweater!)
I would love the Black Turbodown jacket…very sleek!
I love the Minx Shorty Omni Heat Print boots – they would be great for our long Vermont winters!!
I love the Women’s Minx ™ Shorty Omni-Heat™ black boots or the Jacket in black! Last winter was the first winter that I coninued my running outdoors. I live in Canada, and despite the polar vortex, I decided that I actually prefer running in the winter than the dead heat of summer! I can’t wait to keep running!
I love the black color of the coat !!
I love the red jacket!! I could definitely use that insulation in Connecticut!
I’m also getting ready for a cold winter in Charlotte! I would love to have boots to walk the dog in during the colder months – the shorty omni-heat ones would be perfect!
I love the jacket in purple! So pretty! This year I am signing up to train for an indoor sprint triathlon through my local gym. I hoping that creates a fun incentive and some accountability to keep moving during the winter months!