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 that jacket in silver. I have been looking for a great jacket that is lightweight but can also keep me warm. I love the style of this one!
I would love the jacket in black! I have a treadmill and my trusty stack of Jillian Michael’s dvds for when i am not motivated to leave the warm house!
I would be boring and pick the black jacket but the purple is fun, too!
The red hibiscus is adorable! Thanks for getting me excited about winter!
I like to use the tabata timer app on my phone and create my own tabata workouts!
I would love the purple jacket!!
I would love the Minx Pull-On pair in Elk, Grizzly Bear… basically I LOVE the pair you purchased!
WOMEN’S MINX™ SLIP II OMNI-HEAT love the tan color! I live in Northern Wisconsin and try to stay active in winter months anyway I can! My favorite activity is snowshoeing 🙂
i would go for the purple jacket!!
I LOVE the Columbia jacket!! Any of the colors would work well, but my preference is the silver or purple!
I would love the Platinum 860 TurboDown Jacket in Black. I grew up in upstate NY but currently live in MS. I’m in the market for a down jacket that I can easily pack in my carry-on bag when I fly back to NY to visit my parents during the holidays.
These look comfortable and cute. I love the color of the jacket too! I feel to puffy in those jackets though 🙁 I’d love to try the boots. Last year we had 10 snow days in VA, as a teacher, these would be great boots for recess!
I like the black jacket 🙂 Looks so warm. I will stay fit teaching classes this winter!
The red Columbia jacket is so so cute!
Staying active when it is cold out is always a challenge during our brutal Cleveland winters! What gets me motivated is watching all my favorite shows that I have taped on the DVR while on my elliptical!
I love the jacket in red or purple! Looks so warm but not too fluffy!
Believe it or not, winter is my favorite time to train for a spring race. There’s something about the cold air and seeing your breath, that makes me want to knock out a few miles and get back to the house. And it beats humidity any day! I love the purple jacket and pull-up boots too!
i would LOVE the Minx Shorty Omni Heat boots or the minx pull on boots…both look perfect for winter time.
I love that red coat!!! I hope it would stand up to the freezing Minnesota winters!
My favorite winter activity is downhill skiing. Thanks for the chance to win!
Oooo, I’d love the red to take with me when I visit my family in PA this Christmas!
I’m a FL native and this is my 2nd winter in Michigan. It’s hard to stay motivated when daylight is short and it is oh so cold outside! Last year I signed up for a spring half marathon (my first!), so I ended up doing a lot of runs outside (I didn’t have a gym membership at the time). This year I have a gym membership which should help keep me active on the bitter cold days!
Love the black jacket!
I love the black jacket! The boots that you have are really cute too! I typically stick to running on the treadmill or doing workout DVDs in the winter. I would love to try snowshoeing this year though!
I’m interested in both. Like the purple jacket and the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boots. I go hiking all winter long, even in the snow, plus some cross country skiing. The DOGS are always motivators! They can never get enough walks as I’m sure you know!
Our winters are cold to me, but overall are mild by comparison! I’m motivated to stay active so my three kids don’t go stir crazy and destroy my house. Outside we go! Mainly playground time and playground workouts with them unless we got a dash of snow.
I love the jacket in red!! Would be great for a super cold ohio winter!
I’d love the red for skiing!
They both look awesome!
I love to run in the winter. It doesn’t snow much here but still cold so it’s perfect running weather!
I LOVE the red coat!!
I love the way the red jacket stands out and how great it looks with blonde hair (me too!). I am hoping to get into skiing this winter and a jacket like that would be perfect! Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love the red to accent the snowy winters in Indiana!!
i would choose the silver coat. so cute!
I am loving the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni Heat boots in Winter White. Such a stylish winter boot that will keep your feet warm 🙂
I like the minx boots, but also the red boots!
I love staying active in the winter months. This year, especially, since I will be training for a race in April, I will need it! But I also live in an apartment where my car is parked outside I frequently need to dig it out of the snow, so the boots look extra appealing to me. I would prefer the style that you have (Minx Pull on Omni-heat).
Thanks for the awesome giveaway contest! I love the boots, and my faves are the Women’s Minx Shorty Omni- Heat Boots in Black!
We love to stay active in winter months by taking our dog, King, out snowshoeing! We also love cross country skiing and downhill skiing!
I like the Minx pull on omni heat print. Moving from Florida to Atlanta and I have no cold weather shoes so these would be perfect!
I like taking classes at the gym and definitely snowboarding!
I love the Minx boots!
I’d love the black jacket! I have a big down jacket for when it’s really cold (I live in AK), but having something for the “warmer” winter days would be nice!
I would love the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni-Heat Print in Red. Thank you for such a wonderful giveaway.
Red jacket to walk the pup and stay warm in polar vortexes outside DC!
Love those waterproof tan boots! Would be perfect for walking the dogs this winter!
Having grown up in Wisconsin, I certainly appreciate quality winter clothing! Both the boots and jacket look fantastic and toasty warm. My new favorite winter activities are cross country skiing and ice skating, although I do spend much more time in the gym during the winter!
Ooh I love the Mid II Omni Heat boots!
I am in desperate need of a new puffy coat to get me through the Minnesota winter! I would love to try the jacket in silver!
I have been looking for a warm, purple winter coat because my old coat wore out and purple is my favorite color. I need a warm coat to learn to ski with my new fiance this winter!
Love to get to the mountains and ski in the winter!
Perfect timing! I am needing a new winter coat. The red would be super!