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’d love that jacket in black! looks so cozy and warm!
i love the red jacket, it looks so warm
Wow! What an awesome giveaway. I am equally interested in the (black) jacket and Omni-Grip boots. Either item would come in handy for the brutal NYC winter I’m anticipating this year!
During the winter, I stay motivated pretty much the same way I do all year around. I keep my weekday workouts short, but effective (20 min HIIT treadmill runs, circuits, etc) and plan for longer workouts, like running or spinning during the weekends. And when I’m really busy or just not feeling, I at least try to make small conscious efforts, like taking the stairs, squeezing in pushups or squats when I can. This balanced approached keeps me from being “all or nothing” with exercise.
The Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print boots (in Elk) are great! 😉
I would love both the jacket or the boots! I like to keep a few at home circuit workouts in mind when it gets really cold and I’m not motivated for the gym. Or if it’s not too cold heading out for a walk is refreshing!
I would love the Women’s Minx Slip II Omni-Heat boots! Slip on would be great for taking my dog for walks during the frigid chicago winter!
I live up in New Hampshire and always look forward to cross country skiing in the winter! I would love the red Columbia coat 🙂
…And the black jacket looks sooo warm!! 😉
I love the white boots! Lately the Ballet Beautiful videos have been my favorite indoor workouts 🙂
I love the purple jacket! I live in buffalo where the winters are very cold but I still bundle up and make an effort to run outside.
I have been looking for a new pair of boots! Would love to try the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni in Black!
I would love the Minx Pull On Omni-Heat Print boots! They are adorable! Boots are my favorite way to accessorize and these would allow be to be cute while giving me the ability to participate in some of my favorite outdoors activities such as hiking!
LOVING the Minx Shorty Omni-Heat Print boots! Living in Wisconsin going ANYWHERE in the winter requires huge boots! I love that these are not only short, but SOO cute! I wouldn’t mind having to wear those around while running errands!
My whole family can downhill ski but it’s never something that I have had enough endurance to complete. I am hoping to try and succeed at skiing this winter!
Love the Women’s Minx Pull On Omni-Heat Print boots !! They look so warm and stylish!
The Omni Heat Print Boots are too cute! I’ve been looking for a good pair of boots to wear this winter, something easy to slide on when I need to take my puppy out. But this boots are also super cute and could eassily be worn with a casual outfit 🙂 Great giveaway! Hope you survive your first NC winter!
I absolutely love the black (and purple!) jacket!
I like to keep a lot of workout DVD’s and YouTube links on hand to get me though the colder months! Bundling up for walks or runs outside in the snow is nice once in a while, too!
To stay active in the winter, I usually challenge myself to a run streak. Running every day and seeing how long I can keep it up keeps me motivated!!! I’m also a huge fan of pinterest work outs.
Black jacket!!
Both the jacket and the boots are super cute! I love bundling up and heading outdoors, even in the winter!
At the beginning of this year, I started started running in the winter. I signed myself up for a winter 10K in support of Breast and Ovarian Cancer and oh man, it was tough but I had a great time! Winter running is no joke! I live in Chicago so that jacket would be perfect! I’d love the black one!
I would love the jacket in Black! So cute!
The boots and the coat are both adorable. In the winter months, I love to get outside for a snowball fight and then come back in for a cup of hot tea to warm up later.
Love the purple coat!
I love the Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print in Grizzly Bear! I stay active by walking my puppy no matter what the weather!
I’d love to win the black jacket. Living in North Dakota makes for some very cold winters!
I love either the black jacket or the red dahlia mid II boots! I live in Juneau, Alaska so winter = outside fun, whether it’s snowshoeing up to a cabin for the night or snow boarding at our ski area or just hiking around the glacier when the lake is frozen!
I would love to wear the purple jacket on my winter runs!
black jacket please!!!
I love either the jacket or the boots! One way I stay active is to play outside with my dog who loves the snow! I also load, unload, and stack firewood for our wood burning furnace outside.
I like the jacket in purple! or red. And the shorty Omni print boots.
I love the red jacket!!! During the winter I like to do lots of pilates and yoga videos in my apartment, very easy and practical!
ooh, I’d love the boots!! I actually love the style you have on, the pull on ones seem so convenient. 🙂 I also love the elk/grizzly bear color combo
That black jacket would be perfec!
LOVE the boots! A necessity in the cold months. I love skating outdoors during the winter!
I love the red jacket and the Pull On Omni-Heat Print. I live in PA so winters can be harsh. I stay active by attending spin classes, yoga, and barre. I also sign up for races in the winter with fun names like “shiver by the river” and “frosty buns” – getting out there in the cold with other crazy runners makes it fun. You also can beat hot oatmeal or coffee after a chilly run!
I love to hike in the woods during the cold months! And I would be excited to win either a coat or boots:)
I love the black jacket!! It’s perfect for winter dog walks!
I love the purple jacket! Looks so cozy!
Love the black jacket!! I’d look so fashionable running down Lake Shore in the Chicago winters!
I love the boots you’re wearing..the omni print ones. So cute and great for winter!!
Hard to believe it’s almost winter time!!! I love the black jacket! Hoping for some snow this year in atlanta 🙂
I’m interested in the jacket. My favorite color is purple, so can never go wrong with purple clothes. 🙂
i like the red jacket and the red boots!
I love the red jacket you are wearing! It would be nice to add some brightness to dreary cleveland weather!!
I would LOVE the Minx Pull On Print Boots in Tan!
I would love the jacket in black!
The Omni Heat Print Boots! Love them!
The jacket and boots are both so cute – who could pick? My favorite cold weather activity is running – you can make it happen in just about any condition as long as you dress appropriately!