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 either!! The black jacket or the pull on omni heat print boots. I love to bundle up and go for long runs in the winter!
I’d love to win the jacket in purple
I would love the black jacket!
I love both and living in Canada I will definitely need both. I’d love the jacket in purple.
Have an awesome and warm day
i am a weirdo and actually adore running in the chilly temps! It’s my favorite workout time of year!
I would love the black jacket!
The boots you have are super cute!
Love the purple coat! Such a fun color!!
I would love the Women’s Minx Slip II Omni-Heat™ boots!
I would love either to add to my winter wardrobe and I ted to bundle up and head over to the gym to do a lifting workout or if it’s torrential snow and rain I do a circuit in the warmth of my home!
I would love the Black Columbia jacket. Sometimes Virginia weather is confused and likes to be 60 one day and 20 the next!
I’d love that jacket in black! What a great jacket! Thanks so much for offering the giveaway!
Hi Julie! I love that purple jacket. I live up in NH, and the winters seem to go on forever. I definitely need some inspiration to bundle up and just GET OUTSIDE! 🙂
I would love to win either one! My favorite winter activity is bundling up and going for a walk or run! We recently moved to a house that has a big hill in the backyard, so sledding might be happening this winter too! 🙂
purple coat for sure!
I have the tall minx boots and love them- would love a short pair too!
I’d love either option! My favorite activities are skiing and winter running – the cold air is awesome to keep you moving.
I would love either! Anything to get the kids outside and run off some energy!!
I love both the jacket and boots. Living in Minnesota with a 5 year old sledding and snowman building are huge here. Kids don’t feel the cold.
Great give away thanks.
The red jacket! I live in New England where the winters are cold and long, and I’m in the market for a new jacket!
I’d love to win the shorty omniheat herringbone in blue! New boots are must for me this winter after slipping on the ice with my old worn out ones multiple times last year….
Love your blog.
Love the Minx pull-on omni boot print (the ones you’re wearing in this post). They look so cute and warm!
This sounds really silly, but after growing up in south florida my body has a really hard time handling the north florida winters in Jacksonville – I never knew Florida would freeze until I came up here!! My husband makes fun of my extensive Jacket and boot collection as a Floridian, but I just can’t find a good one! Would love to try the Columbia brand for my hiking excursions in the cold winter weather that is right around the corner!
Both the jacket and boots look so warm! I mostly keep up my fitness in the winter months with group exercise classes, but I always work up a sweat shoveling the driveway!
I love to snowboard and the jacket would be perfect! would love a black one 🙂
My husband taught me not to hate the winter by being active and enjoying it. We love to snowshoe , cross country ski and just walk in the woods.
I’d love the jacket in red! I live in New York and every winter workouts tend to fall by the wayside in favor of Netflix ; )
Living outside of Chicago, that jacket would definitely come in handy during the winter! (as I am sure you remember) I would love the black one!
I would love the black jacket!
I love the jacket in purple because it’s my school colors! Go Horned Frogs!!
I love the red jacket!
I would like the purple jacket 🙂
I’d love the silver jacket and same minx boots you have!
Those boots you have on are AMAZING! Gotta have those suckers!!
I think the best way to stay active in winter is to have a workout buddy. It’s a lot easier to get out of bed when it’s dark if you know there’s someone who’s counting on you! I love both the coats and the boots, perfect for chilly winters!
I have been searching for a new winter jacket, so I would love to win the jacket in black.
I love both! I have a warm weather vacation planned in the middle of winter which keeps me motivated to stay active since I will be wearing a bathing suit in January 🙂
love the red jacket
I love both the boots and the jacket–either would be useful in the New England winter!!
I am definitely an indoor gym kind of person during the winter but I still love getting outside for walks and building snowmen 🙂
I like to find classes to go to at the gym!
I grew up in the Carolinas but now live in Indiana and still haven’t quite gotten used to how cold and icy the winters are here – I would love to win the boots or coat to use this winter! My favorite way to stay active during the cold weather is to do dance fitness videos in my living room – after only one I have already broken a sweat and it feels good to go outside afterwards to cool down!
This will be my first “winter” in NC too! Although last year in Georgia I was sledding/tube and snowed in for a good week…lol. Dragging the tube up the hill and running to catch good speed counts as a workout..right?! I like the jacket in purple. 🙂
Love that red coat!
I absolutely love the red jacket! Living in Minnesota like I do, it would definitely come in handy.
I love your boots and the jacket, but black!
I would love that jacket in black! I ensured my winter motivation by buying a nice treadmill last year-now I have no excuse not to workout!
Love the Purple jacket! NC doesn’t get too, too cold in the winter, so I still like to run outside. The cold just makes you run faster to get your blood flowing!
I’m in need of a new winter jacket and love the purple!
I would love the purple or the black jacket, or the boots that you are wearing in your post! Honestly, the only thing good about winter is the ability to wear cozy boots.
The town where I live has a 4 mile trail that’s all wooded and I love walking it wether its cold or hot! It’s so beautiful! The jacket would be a great way to stay warm but not be too bulky. Black is always a classic for me 🙂
I LOVE the red jacket!! looks adorable on you!