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 have the red jacket!
I would love to win the black jacket or the boots just like you are wearing! Love the outdoors in the winter!!
I’m always 1st when it comes to volunteering to shovel the driveway! 🙂 It is a great winter workout- especially on those snowy days you can’t leave the house! For when the snow is not coming down- I’m all for walking up those steep sledding hills!
They are both Super Cute! I do classes at my gym more in the winter months!
Would love the red coat! Love how red looks on blondes!!
I’d love the purple jacket – soooo pretty!!!
I would love to win the jacket!!! I am in need of a nice cozy one!
Red jacket!
I’d pick black!
I would love the black jacket for staying warm while staying active this winter. Ps love your braid!
I would LOVE to win the jacket! I like the red one you’re wearing in the picture, but color isn’t as important as the heat-retaining powers… I’m facing a Colorado winter after growing up in Arizona, so any and all forms of warmth are appreciated 🙂
I love the black jacket and the Minx Slip on!
Red red red!!! (the jacket that is!) I love running in the crisp winter air. it’s so refreshing!
I love both the jacket and the boots! Both would come in very handy during the cold winter months. To stay active in the winter I do a lot of at home workout DVDs. I switch it up to keep myself from getting bored. Once I feel the need to get out I will head to my local gym to use the treadmill or other machines I don’t have at home.
I love running in the cold, the fresh air is the best way to wake up!
Great giveaway! I really like the jacket in red or black!
I love the jacket! It would be perfect in silver especially when your flying down the mountain in skis 🙂 I love skiing and am hoping to make a trip this season!
I would LOVE that purple jacket! Definitely don’t own anything warm enough to walk around campus in yet!
I like to layer in thin warm layers and head outside. If you are dressed right you can almost do more in winter than summer. I nice run in the chilly weather is perfect.
Oh man, I love everything! The jacket is probably something I would wear more than the boots – but maybe actually having boots would get me outside more! I loved the omni-shortie boots! Much needed in Indiana!
I would love to win the jacket in black. I love the red on you though.
Ahhh, I LOVE those boots! I would want exactly the ones you modeled 🙂
After the 15 snow storms (I don’t even think i’m exaggerating?) that we had in NJ/NYC last winter, I need something warm and durable!
Oooo I love both! Definitely a brighter jacket color, and taller boots. Can’t decide! Favorite outdoor winter activity is probably skating 🙂
Have to say, that I would take your upcoming winter over mine anyday – 40 degree temp winters aint got nothing on the negative temps we get up in Minnesota 😉
I love to stay active in the winter by skiing or doing hot yoga!
I would love both the jacket and the boots or either or!
Happy tuesday!
I love to win the boots. I love to walk outside (with my dog), and when it gets cold it would be nice to have a warm comfortable pair or boots. I would definitely would go for the Pull On Omni-Heat Print.:)
LOVE the red coat – perfect for Canadian winters and skating on the Canal in Ottawa!
The red one would be perfect for my Disney Princess Half Marathon training in December-February!
Also -is your vest columbia too? ADORABLE!
I’m about to go through my second winter in Colorado and either the boots or jacket would be awesome! I’m not much of a skier but really enjoy hiking in the snow!
Those boots are perfect for winter! I’d love the Women’s Minx Pull On Omni-Heat in black!
I love the jacket in purple. How cool about the light reflection technology!
I love the jacket in purple! I’m going to need a warm jacket so I can keep my puppy active during the Colorado winter!
They are both super cute and would be uber helpful come this Colorado winter. The boots especially. I am an avid walker/biker – so I will be walking to work all winter!
I like the Mid 2 omni heat boot. The mid calf height is great for winter hikes. I like hiking through the nearby urban park in the city I live in. Lots of hills and tough terrain to get a good workout!
I would love the jacket in silver – DC winters are no joke, even for this CT girl! It looks like the perfect layer for enjoying chilly days outside.
I would love the jacket in black or the minx boots you are wearing! I’m hoping to start Crossfit this winter and my border collie will keep me active outside! Great giveaway, thank you!
Love the jacket AND the boots! I would be happy to win either! My favorite winter activity is taking our pup on longs walks at the local park.
such cute and functional Winter outdoorsy gear. i def dig Columbia’s stuff and find it holds up really well. as cute as the jackets are, i just bought a new insulated winter jacket comparable to these, so i’d have to go for the boots. i actually really need a good pair of warm winter boots and love the winter white color.
I love the jacket in black!
The jacket in Black please! I live in MN and we have officially hit winter 🙂
Ohhh! I love the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Print in RED! They are adorable… Winter months in Boston can get pretty brutal. I stay fit by creating indoor “living room workouts” and also heading to my local boxing gym. It warms up in there pretty fast 🙂
Red……it’s my favorite color!!!
I’d love the jacket in black or purple!
I love the boots you picked out! The Minx pull on in elk-grizzly. My favorite way to stay active in the winter is snowboarding! so much fun you don’t’ even notice a workout!
I wouldn’t mind either! I love snow shoeing in the winter.
I love the jacket in black! I’m in the market for a warm winter jacket and this is a great versatile option 🙂
I love indoor workouts during the winter! I recently purchased some dumbbells so I can focus on more strength training from the comfort of my own home when it starts getting colder outside!
I had know idea you were from Chicago! I can definitely relate to the struggle of working out in the cold – if it’s hard to go for a run in the morning, it’s nearly impossible to go when it is -20! (C).
I would absolutely love the purple jacket! I need an in-between coat that is not for absolutely frozen Alberta but warmer than a light summer jacket. 🙂
RED! And purple! And black….
oh, wait, you said one color. Ha. I love the red!
[and now I’m boot shopping on Columbia’s site, oops!]
I live in PA, so I could definitely put that coat to good use! I like the red, although the purple is pretty, too 🙂