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 the jacket in black! I have been looking at getting a new coat this winter since I don’t even really own a warm coat! Georgia usually isn’t that cold, but last year did me in… it’s time for a warm jacket! 🙂
i love that jacket in silver!
Love the boots! I’m in the market for some new winter boots since the warm Fall weather is leaving Minnesota. We go snow shoeing and tubing!
I’d love that red jacket! It is so cute! I love love to snow ski and I’m going to get to go in December! The red jacket would be perfect! I’ve also been into the snowshoeing.. Something so peaceful about a hike in the snow! 🙂
I could definitely use that great jacket (preferably in black or red) for the upcoming New York winter!
The black Columbia and the Mid II omni-heat boots in black! 🙂
During the winter, I love doing vinyasa yoga and getting in cardio on the elliptical to stay warm. I need something warm for the trek to the gym!
I love the black jacket! I’d wear it skiing and to/from the gym.
TurboDown jacket -Silver- for NYC winters.
I am loving red at the moment and that jacket would be perfect for this winter!
I love the red jacket – very cute.
We are about to move to GERMANY and I would love a new warm winter coat! The red one would be perfect! Maybe I will even get a chance to test it out in the Alps! Thank you! 🙂
You always find the best stuff! I love both the jacket and boots!! Philadelphia winters can be rough and would make good use of either. If not at the gym, I like to ski and take walks in the snow. Thanks for the opportunity to win 🙂
I live in Nova Scotia, Canada and the winters are really cold with a lot of snow!
My favorite active thing to do in the winter is cross country skiing along the trails in the woods. The peaceful energy and cold breeze is a nice reboot!
Loving the purple jacket!
I love the Women’s Minx Slip II Omni-Heat in black. I need a new pair of winter boots to deal with Chicago winters. I heard we are suppose to have another bad one this year! Yikes! Thanks!
Love the RED jacket…and the WHITE Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Print BOOTS. THANKS
My running group switches over to “winter” running- all HILL workouts! It’s a fun group & fun to wear headlamps & all our reflective gear!
Love the black jacket! So simple.
I love the boots and jacket!! Too cute to stay warm in new England winter weather!! I love to hit up the indoor pool for laps, attend a barre class, ski or go for a run (bundled up of course!!)!
Oh the boots that you picked are adorable! I would choose those! I am from Minnesota-with a winter like last years I need to be ready this year!!
Love love that jacket! Would really like it in purple or black! I’m always on the look out for jackets that keep me warm while I’m on the move and are also able to fit into a suitcase!
I love the purple!
I was JUST looking for which puffy coat I need for this NYC winter. I would love it in Black! Of course…
: )
Hiking in the mountains, skiing and hitting the White Water Center are some of my favorite *active* things to do during the winter months!
Skiing is hands down my favorite winter activity. I can’t wait for the first big snowfall of the year!
I love to get out and go snowboarding or just going for a walk in the snow, maybe a snow ball fight here and there or some sledding! I like to pretend I am still a little kid in the winter !
I love to run in the winter. The crisp air feels so good to get out and run. But since I live in IA I don’t have many opportunities to run in the winter, so I tried snow shoeing last year and it was a blast! I like the Women’s Minx Pull On Omni-Heat Print. Thanks for the chance to win!!
I love running (when it is not icy) and having the type of fun outside in the snow that doesn’t feel like a workout but is!! I think either prize would be fabulous!!
I like both the boots and the jacket, so I’ll tell you my favorite way to work out in the winter.
I’m on a dragon boat team and I am very lucky that I live near the ONLY indoor paddle pool (it’s practically a boat affixed to the sides of a pool) in the U.S., so that is my favorite place to work out.
Snowshoeing is a great way to get outside and play in the snow!
I’ve actually just been searching for a good pair of winter boots (the kind you can actually wear in the snow) and the Columbia Minx Pull on Omni-Heat Print Boots are just what I’m looking for! Didn’t know they had these! If I don’t win, I think they will be on my Christmas list for the hubby 🙂
I would LOVE that jacket in black- so cute!
Thanks 🙂
I’m a New Englander. That being said, I am a girl of year round seasons and activities. From snowboarding and snow shoeing up north, to shoveling the massive amount of snow in my driveway to walking around Boston…I can always use a lovely pair of boots and a jacket! I’m not too picky about colors, I love em all! xo
I love your style in clothes and colors. I would love to win the jacket in red or purple. Both very pretty colors, can’t decide which color though. 🙂 I love that this jacket is warm but doesn’t add the puff which we all hate.
I live in Minnesota and it gets really really cold here in the winter. Some things I like to do to stay active are go to the gym, snowshoeing, and hiking.
I would love love LOVE the jacket in Black!
I would love the purple jacket or the white and gray boots. Indiana is supposed to have a rough winter this year
I would LOVE the jacket in grey!!! 🙂 Thanks!
The boots and the jacket look amazing! I’m boring and like black in the jacket and I love the elk boots. So cute! And there’s nothing worse than being cold when you’re outside!
I like playing in the snow. What’s better than making snowmen and snow angels? (or a snowball fight!)
I’d love the purple jacket because in Boston everyone wears dark colors in winter. I’d love to stand out in the crowd of black and gray!
Love the Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat in winter white. Would be great for unpredictable Boston winters!
I love to sign up for a spring marathon to help motivate me to keep active and running throughout the winter! I also have a feeling that our new puppy will keep us active as well. 🙂 I would love the Minx Pull On Boots to wear while taking our puppy out on walks in the winter.
I’d love to win the boots! Either one really! We live in Colorado so we stay active by hiking. 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE the jacket – had my eye on these for a while – any color but purple would be awesome! I need it for skiing, snowshoeing, hike and well everything in between!
Love that jacket! I would love it in Red or Black! Would be a perfect addition to my new found love with running outside :).
I just planned my first ski trip to Park city and I am so excited! I have wanted to go skiing for over ten years and I think the purple jacket would be perfect to keep me warm on the slopes! I am looking forward to adding new ways to stay fit in the winter.
The red jacket is so fun! I would definitely choose that one!
I love the Minx Pull On Omni Heat Print. I am training for a marathon and these would be great for days I have to take my workout inside here in WV! They would be perfect for getting me to the gym in the snow and then changing into running shoes.
I love the Red Hibiscus jacket, perfect to warm me up!
I love all the warm weather stuff… I think the boots would be more useful for me than the jacket. What a great giveaway… Hope I get selected! xoxo