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 boots! I walk to work and would love the boots in grey!
I like the jacket, it looks awesome and so comfy and warm, the red color is so cute!
I just ordered the PiYo DVD set to help motivate me for winter! It’s been so dark out in the morning that I don’t want to run, so I figured the challenge of completing 60 days of PiYo will maybe help motivate me to be active. 🙂
I would be so thrilled to win both 🙂 Winter is by far my favorite season! My stepson is learning to snowboard (he is 5) so running after him with the go pro is a great work out! I also work for a car rental company and scraping snow off of the rentals is a workout in and of itself :p.
I think the silver jacket would be great for the winter.
I’m a basic black type of girl! So i’d go with black!
Ahh! Adorable stuff! I <3 Columbia and have a new found appreciation for winter wear ever since we moved to Michigan! The jacket is adorable, but I think I need those Minx boots. So cute!!
I LOVE the black jacket. So cute on you!
I like the jacket AND the boots! So awesome!
I actually do more outdoors in the winter because I hate bees and bugs. Walking, running, hiking. I love being active in crisp air. 🙂
I moved to Chicago last year from California so the winter was a MAJOR shock. But I got creative and on the worst days, I would just take “walks” on the treadmill and watch Netflix. I love doing workout DVD’s at home, bundling up and taking the puppy for a walk is great as well. Even 15 minutes in the fresh air helps. Also meeting friends at the gym for a class keeps you accountable.
I would LOVE to win both the jacket and the boots. RED is my favorite color.
for the boots, i would want WOMEN’S MINX™ MID II OMNI-HEAT™ BOOT in Slate!
The jacket is so cute!!
love the jacket in red! great color.
Wow! That purple jacket would be a fabulous addition to keep me warm during winter. 🙂
I’ve been having trouble looking for a good pair of comfortable, warm and waterproof winter boots and I’d love to try a pair of these in black! I’ve always wanted to try snowboarding, skiing, or sledding, hopefully we can try to plan something this year, always up for an adventure! 🙂
I’m all about winter activities – snowshoeing, x-country skiing, snowboarding and winter walks. I love the jacket in black and the shorty boots in herringbone are super cute!
To keep active during the cold Michigan winter, I am looking forward to cross country skiing. It’s a great way to get outside and exercise.
I live in Colorado so we’ve already hit freezing weather. I still suit up and go for a run with a hat and gloves. I would love she jacket in black!
Pam
I love the boots! I’ve been looking for new winter boots and the Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print look perfect!! 🙂
I have loved the red jacket ever since you posted it in January! After moving back to Chicago from Orlando last year, I definitely will need a coat to keep me warm this winter! It sounds like just the thing to keep me warm here during my commute in the “Chiberia” winters of Chicago.
The Women’s Mix Slip II Omni-Heat look like the perfect boots to wear to and from both the gym and work! I think the black color will look professional enough but yet still cute and stylish!
The best way to stay active during the winter is to get out and enjoy the snow! Shoveling, running in the snow, and even making snow angels are all a great workout to do while having fun outdoors.
Workout DVDs are a lifesaver in the winter!
Shoveling snow in Chicago winters is such a great workout!
I love the red jacket! I don’t normally love that bright red but it looks so great on you I love it!
I would love to have either one! I like the jacket in black and the boots that you modeled 🙂 I am planning a graduation trip for December to Europe and need something warm that can fit compactly in my suitcase
They look so good! Hoping for a chance to snowboard! The purple jacket and red boots look super cute. 🙂
OH my i love the black Jacket but also mid II onmi heat boots in black!!
Love the purple jacket for a fun pop of color.
I would love the jacket in red!!!
I would love to have the jacket in black!
I love the colors of the jacket but I think ultimately I would end up in the black one 🙂
As a current Chicago resident, I would love the purple jacket to help me stay warm! The women’s mix pull-on boots would also be wonderful as I trudge to crossfit at 5:15 am! It keeps me going during the brutal winter months 🙂
Both the coat and boots are cute and would be an excellent addition to my winter workout attire. This winter I will be training for a marathon in the cold weather so either would be helpful in training.
Winter hikes are so fun! Coming in from the cold with rosy cheeks is a good time 🙂
Living in MN I would LOVE either of those Columbia goods- you can never have enough coats or boots. My favorite outdoor activities in the winter are skiing- downhill or cross-country, I love it all.
I looked at the different styles and agree with you on the Minx PullOn. They would be the easiest on and off.
I love the red jacket. It looks super cute and bright!
I moved from California to eastern Washington state 4 years ago and had to majorly overhaul my winter gear! I’m all set on heavy coats, and boots, but would love a lighter down jacket! The black is classic!
I would wear the jacket in black all the time!
Love your site! I have it open on my laptop so I can click right to it every morning! The black jacket would be awesome 🙂
Wow, I would LOVE the red jacket!!
Where I live it gets VERY cold and I think having something that isn’t too puffy would be an amazing addition to my wardrobe!
i love the minx pull on boots that you chose! comfortable and practical!
What a cool (pun intended) giveaway! I love Columbia sportswear. I moved to the northeast last year after living in the south all my life. The winter was brutal when I was used to running and exercising outside. I do enjoy skiing and am totally bummed that my husband is going in January without me (this is one of those times work sucks!)
Thanks for offering the giveaway! I would be happy to win either item, especially since they are forecasting heavier than normal snowfall this year!
I would love the purple jacket! I live in Utah and winter is COLD! Thank you for all your daily posts, they are SO fun to read!
I absolutely need a new coat this year and that purple one is calling my name! It’s my college color– purple (and gold)– (Go JMU!). I’d love to get my hands on it! 🙂
Either the red (to stand out) or black (to keep it “professional”) 😉
I would love the Women’s Minx boots! So cute.
I love the jacket in red like you have but the tall Minx boots look cute and cozy too! I’m originally a Floridian (from Jacksonville!) but now live in Buffalo, NY. Even though I’ve been here for 2 years, winters never get easier for this Florida girl!! So my favorite winter activities involve new workout classes – a fun class definitely helps motivate me to crawl out of a warm bed on a below freezing day!
I love both!! Having just recently moved to Tennessee, I am in desperate need of quality winter gear for visiting the mountains!
Oh my gosh! What a fabulous giveaway… I’ll say boots, because I could use them on my upcoming ski trip. We always try to fit a ski trip in during the winter months, and we get our booties to the gym for our winter workouts. I would pick Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot… super cute!
Both the jacket and the boots look great! I am planning a trip to go skiing this winter!!
I’m Canadian and it gets COLD up here! We love walks in the snow up to get hot chocolate. Walking in snow is a major workout!