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 love the jacket and the boots! I’m going to be marathon training this winter, so I am always on the hunt for cute, warm clothing that can keep me going after the ice bath and to the post-run cocktails! 🙂
The combination of the purple jacket with the Black Women’s Minx Mid II Omni-Heat Boot would be perfect for Winter here in Oregon! I spend a lot of my time up in the Cascade Mountains near Mt. Bachelor cross country skiing, skate skiing, and snow shoeing. I love skiing in to one of the winter cabins near Elk Lake, staying a couple nights, and enjoying all of the winter activities the area has to offer. Yay snow!!!
I love the jacket in purple!
My favorite winter exercise activity is to ski in the winter! And I have already signed up for a half marathon in December to help keep up a workout routine as it gets cold!
Awesome giveaway! I love both. Setting a workout date with a friend or my trainer are absolutely necessary to hold me accountable!
Love the jacket in black! It looks so warm!
My favorite style of boots was the Women’s Minx™ Slip II Omni-Heat™ in British Tan, I love that they slip on and could definitely use some warm boots for winter in Minnesota!
I would love the jacket in Red! It looks so cute on you Julie 🙂 I plan on working out at Orange Theory Fitness during the winter. I recently bought a membership and I love the variety and intensity of the workouts!
I love the red jacket! I stay active in the winter by taking classes at the gym. We also take our dog out for walks twice a day. Montana winters are so cold so bundling up is essential!
i love the red jacket! I’ve never found a really good jacket for exercise outside in the winter and it looks perfect!!
Winter in Wisconsin is no joke! I would love the jacket in red!
I think the jacket (in black) would be perfect for the Connecticut winter that I’m about to have to endure 🙂
I love the red that you have! I just moved to boston, so this will be my first real winter!
That purple jacket is gorgeous! I love it!
I love the jacket in red! Great giveaway!
I love the minx boots you have on!! They are too cute. This winter we plan on taking the kids sledding down the big hill in our neighborhood. Walking up that hill a million times with two toddlers is exhausting!!
I would love to win either! My favorite way to stay active is by bundling up and hiking or taking classes at the gym!
I adore the jacket in purple. I love how flattering it is for a puffy jacket!
I love the jacket in red!
I would love to win either (if it’s the jacket I’d take the red; the boots I’d take the Minx Mid II in shale. In the winter we love to go skiing. Sledding is always fun too.
Hi!!! Ahhhhhh both of those freebies are awesome AND practical! I live in Virginia and winter does show up from time to time! I tend to stick to the gym a little more often during the winter because it’s warm so the minx Omni pull on heat print boots would be perfect. They look easy to get on and off when I’m changing at the gym! We also have a beautiful park with the Noland Trail which is 5 miles. It surrounds a lake and is so so pretty during the winter. I take my little pup Chunk there a lot so the boots or jacket would be wonderful for that! You pull off the boots and jacket so well that I like the red jacket and the same boots you have! Plus I love the pattern on the boots. I motivate myself to stay active in the winter by counting down to the spring/summer months and reminding myself how I want to look in a bathing suit or crop top!! We also try to plan warm trips (cruises) during the winter months so that keeps me motivated as well!
Staying active in the winter is always so tough for me because breathing dry winter air hurts so much! >< I have been eyeing Columbia's Turbodown jackets (I love it in silver!) and will am hoping to get one soon so that I can at least make the trip to the gym/studio. I find that doing group fitness classes are most crucial in the winter because I'm an extrovert and I need to be around other people when it gets cold! Working up a sweat with other people makes going out into the cold worth it. 🙂
I really like the minx pull on boots that you have! These would definitely come in handy for me since I walk 3 miles to and from work everyday to commute to work!
You had me at purple jacket. Thanks Julie for putting on these amazing giveaways, this would be a great addition to my winter here in Portland, OR!
I love the purple jacket!!
Love the “pull-on Omni-Heat” print boots that you have on. So cute, and they look so warm. Perfect for Colorado winters.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the Tradewinds Grey. I’m going to hopefully train for a marathon that occurs this coming April and I’ll need all the help I can get staying warm in these terrible Michigan winters!!!
I love the red jacket!
What a fantastic giveaway! I love both the jacket and the boots, either one would be great! In the winter, I keep up with my usual Crossfit or Orange Theory classes, but I also try to get up on a mountain for snowboarding as much as possible!
I would love to win the purple TurboDown jacket! It would be amazing for the Utah/Colorado winter!
Its hard to choose as I’m entering my first Colorado winter. The Omni Minx pull on boots are my favorite!
Jacket!
I think the down jacket in red is such a fun Pop of color in the dreary winter months!
I love the women’s minx pull on omni-heat print! They look perfect for the cold/snowy Indiana winters I experience. I have a demanding dog that doesn’t like to stop playing outside or going for walks just because there is snow on the ground so these boots sound ideal to be able to slip on and off when letting the dog out.
The black or purple jacket look awesome.
I would love to have the silver jacket – it would go with everything!
I would love the boots – I realized I don’t have a pair of good winter boots that are both waterproof and slip resistant! I love the Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print!
I would love to win both! They both look like they would keep me warm on my commute to and from work waiting for the bus – it’s cold in Boston! I try to stay motivated by going for walks around Boston during my lunch break even when it is cold!! And I also go right to the gym from work so that way I know I will get some exercise! No excuses! And of course shoveling is a good way to get a workout in!
Cute stuff! I’m loving that jacket, but I’m not sure I’d get much use out of it now that I’m living in Phoenix. Not to mention I have tons of other jackets already. Instead I’d go for the boots: Women’s Minx™ SHORTY Omni-Heat™ Herringbone.
I love the Red jacket…such a fun color! And the minx pull on boot that you chose – so cute!!
I love both the jacket and boots! I like to stay active in the winter by popping in a workout dvd at home, or going to a spin class. Snow shoeing also sounds like fun!
I love to run when it’s chilly outside! But I live in Southern California, so “chilly” is relative….
I would love the jacket in black!
Although I would LOVE the jacket or the boots I would have to go with the boots for this winter since I will be pregnant and jackets just don’t fit right ;). So to that I think the Minx Slip II Omni Heat in black for walking our dog through the winter and getting our for some cold weather hikes.
The black jacket – so cute! I live in Seattle and am at my desk at work right now wearing 4 layers and a huge scarf – I am always cold! 🙂
Love your Columbia vest, by the way!
i love the purple jacket!! =)
Love the jacket in red and the boots you picked out. In the winter, I like to take part in crossfit and run outside on days that I’m not going to freeze my tush off!
I have been needing a new winter jacket and this would be amazing! or the boots. both would be a welcomed addition to the winter weather that is upon us!
I am super excited to get to do some snowshoeing and hiking with my Cocker Spaniel puppy (this will be her first winter). I would love to try out the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot in slate.
I love the red jacket! So cute and comfy-looking. I live in Utah, so you know I need something warm to wear! 😀