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 winter! ….. except for the cold part haha I am an avid snowboarder and I also do some snowshoeing, x-country skiing and of course the occasional snowball fight and fort building.
I would be thrilled and grateful to win either! Either would be useful to me when I go backpacking with my son and his Boy Scout troop. I stay active by shoveling snow and doing dvd’s or treadmill walking/running. That’s for sponsoring a terrific give-away!
I am currently shopping for a new winter coat, and this one looks way more stylish than most I’ve seen! I would love to have one in classic black!
I love the red color of the jacket! I’m looking for a new winter jacket that is easy to pack on some upcoming winter trips we have planned! Signing up for a half marathon in March-April usually keeps me motivated to get outside and go running in the freezing cold!
I get cold so easily, even in 60 degree weather. That jacket in black would be great, and the I really like the Minx Mid II in grey 🙂
I love the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni-Heat Boot in Shale. I love the winter in Florida and finally being able to enjoy hiking in the cooler weather!
I love the red jacket!
The boots you have are perfect for the transition to winter!
The boots are cute, but I’d love the coat in black!
I love the Women’s Minx Mid II Boot in black! Those might inspire me to get outside in a Michigan winter!
I love indoor workouts and hot yoga during the winter. Anything to stay warm!
I’m loving the black jacket. And the boots are super cute too!
Definitely the mid II omni heat boots! I desperately need some new, warm boots so that I can stay active during the winter and get out for some long walks with my son!
Living in Upstate New York, I’m in desperate need of a new pair of boots. I love the Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot in Black, Charcoal!
Oooh. The jacket in red or purple.
I’d love either prize! I’m a big fan of walking and hiking in the winter. Having a dog really forces me to get outside!
My favorite thing to *stay active* in the wintertime is get out and go sledding or building snowmen, forts, etc! Its a great family activity and the kids love it. Anything from Columbia is top notch!
love both the jacket and boots! my favorite way to stay active in the winter is bundling up and going for a run. working out with friends keeps me motivated!
I use the treadmill in our family room to use when it’s too cold to run outside. That paired with some body weight exercises. Being able to exercise without even leaving home makes it nearly impossible to come up with excuses!
It’s going to feel like winter during the weekend nights this weekend in MA! That jacket looks so warm without being oversized or puffy – just what I need! I’d love one in silver!
love these items! I will continue to do body pump – the cold isn’t an issue indoors 🙂
I love both! I love to take walks around to look at Christmas decor.
I am back to cold winters too! After living in south Texas I am dreading the upcoming Northeast winter! I would LOVE that jacket in black!!! It would great for walks with my favorite fur baby dog!
Having a goal to work towards is absolutely necessary for me to stay motivated in the winter!
I looooove the red jacket! It would definitely keep me warm around the chilly streets of Boston!!
So hard to pick! My gut was to go with the black coat because it’d go with everything, but I love the pop of color with your red version!
I am going on a skiing trip in January/February once of these items would be perfect! I would be happy to win either the red jacket OR the Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print in elk/grizzly bear. 🙂
I would love the jacket in black!!
I would love to win the red jacket!!
I would love either one of them! They look so warm. I love the red jacket and the grey WOMEN’S MINX™ MID II OMNI-HEAT™ BOOT. I still get out and run in the winter months in New Jersey. A good jacket, gloves, and hat keep me warm. I personally love when the snow starts coming down when running right before it gets too slick outside to run.
Shorty omni heat herringbone in tan!
My favorite way to stay active in the winter is staying in my house and doing workout DVDs! Also, shoveling the drive is a great way to burn cals and I had plenty of practice last winter in Virginia!
Both the boots and jacket would be a great prize–I love Columbia brand!
I would love the jacket in purple or black. During the winter months, I use a treadmill and free weights at home to stay active.
Oh new boots would be in order this year since I am working in downtown Detroit and must walk from my car to the building – about .5 mile. I really like the teal Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Print.
I love the red jacket!
Would love to the win the jacket in black…
I love the red TurboDown jacket!! Great for the mind-numbing winters we have in Ottawa, Canada…! (You’re lucky you visited here in the fall Julie!)
I love the jacket in purple!
I’m a huge skier- lucky me, I live in Denver and shred ~30 days a season at Copper, WP, Steamboat and Crested Butte. Hoping to hit up Taos and Telluride this year, too! I’d LOVE a purple jacket! I love down jackets, and they’re basically the uniform in the winter out here. I hope I get it!!!
I would LOVE the purple jacket!
I would like the Minx pull-on boots you have but in black!
I have a Saint Bernard, so our twice daily walks don’t stop just because it’s wintertime. The Minx Slip II Omni-heat boots look like they’d be perfect for snowy walks and actually keep my feet dry and warm!
Skiing and hot yoga are my favorites during the winter! Use that cold weather to your advantage!
I would love either prize! I have a great supply of workout DVDs to motivate me during the cold winter months.
I would love the black jacket!
I love both the jacket and the boots! My favorite active thing to do in winter is go sledding, then drink hot coco after! I also get my workouts in by shoveling all the snow we get up here in WI.
I am NOT a winter fan because I hate to be cold. I am always looking for CUTE ways to stay warm outdoors and I think the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot in Oxford Tan would be a perfect solution!
Love the red jacket!! Perfect for winter hikes with my dogs!
Love love love that jacket in red!! I actually really enjoy the colder months because of how invigorating a run can be outside; I also love to ski!
I would love to have that jacket in red or black!
Definitely the jacket in red!