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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The red jacket would be perfect for my honeymoon try to Patagonia this January.
Love, love, love the jacket and the boots!! I am a Georgia girl so anytime the weather gets chilly I am ready to bundle up!! 🙂 I am planning on running a 15k in January so staying warm is very important!
I love the red jacket! It looks pretty with your blonde hair and I also have blonde hair! 🙂
I’ve learned to get creative when it comes to being and staying active during the winter months (up in Wisconsin it can get pretty darn cold and stays that way for six months. Not even joking.) I love to go snowshoeing, sledding, skiing and even having a good ‘ol snow ball fight with friends. Dressing the part is also very important to keep all appendages from freezing. I LOVE that black coat and matching pair of Minx boots in any style. Soooo super cute (and warm) 🙂
I would LOVE that jacket in black! Living on one of the coldest campuses in the nation, I need all the heat I can get!
I love the Minx Mid II! I love that it comes in bright colors and that it is a little bit taller then the rest. these would work great for winter hikes with my dog.
I love the red jacket! I feel ya on the cold winters . . . I’m a Michigan girl!
Love the jacket 🙂 I like the red one. It’d be perfect for the Ohio weather!
I love how flashy the Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket in silver is, that’s my favorite one 🙂 xoxo, ganeeban
Great giveaway! During the winter months, I like to bundle up and get outside for a nice jog or brisk walk. Shoveling snow is also a great workout!
I would LOVE to win the purple jacket! Winter in Michigan is SO cold and I would love to update from one Columbia jacket to another 🙂
What a great giveaway!! Thank you Julie. I really love the boots you have the WOMEN’S MINX™ PULL ON OMNI-HEAT™ PRINT. They are very cute and I know I would get so much use out of them. Thanks again for the giveaway.!
I love that shade of purple…and the boots look awesome! I find that registering for an early spring race keeps me motivated through the winter, even if the snow keeps me on the treadmill!
I would love that jacket in black! So cute and looks really warm:)
The pull on Minx Omni boots are so cute and practical! They would be perfect for this upcoming winter!
Ah I would love the black coat! I live in Kansas where the weather changes so frequently and our winters can get frigid!!
Love everything but thing I like the black jacket the best!
would love that red jacket for the cold Colorado winters!
I love the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot in black!
The black jacket would be perfect with the boots you have. Both are super cute!
Being from Canada, our winters are long and cold. I love the practicality of the Minx pull on Omni-heat boots, going to and from work!
I would absolutely love the black down jacket to snuggle up during the winner!
Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket – Red – Go Pack!
I love the red jacket! It’s such a bold, fun color!
I LOVE THE WOMEN’S MINX ™ SHORTY OMNI-HEAT!! I NEED SOME BOOTS!! MINE ARE ABOUT 6 YRS OLD
My husband and I love to ski! The boots or the jacket would be great for getting around on our ski trips!
I WOULD PICK THE HYPER PURPLE. DURING THE WINTER WE LOVE TO PLAY IN THE SNOW!!! WE ALSO GO SWIMMING ALOT IN THE INSIDE POOL!! THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHAT A WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY
I’d like to win the jacket in black! I am always cold, so the omni-heat would be wonderful for me.
I like the red or the black jacket!
The red jacket looks great on you!! I also love the black since it goes with everything and it looks so comfortable!
I would love to sport the Red Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket!
I would love that jacket in black! I’ve been scoping out some jackets that are super warm (because I’m always freezing) but yet lightweight. I think shoveling is a work out!
I love snowshoeing! Last year we had 340 inches of snow!
I would love either!! My friends and I bundle up and go for a brisk power walk–we all know the quicker you walk, the warmer you’ll be! 🙂
I loveee that jacket (and your vest haha) but I’d like to win the jacket in black 🙂
I love the red on you! I’d really like the purple one for me though 🙂 I LOVE Columbia apparel (Mostly for skiing)! Hope your first winter in NC isn’t too terribly cold!
I would love the jacket in purple!
Gosh I’d love either item! Coat in black or the boots that you have! I stay active by hitting the gym or yoga studio OR take it outdoors with snowboarding and playing in the snow!
I am in the market for a new jacket AND a new pair of boots for the upcoming winter…I would love the jacket in black or the Minx Omni-Heat Shorty in herringbone. I love to hike, snowshoe and ride horses throughout the winter months, but exercising my crazy dog is the best motivator of all!
I just lost my down jacket so a new black one would be amazing!
I live in Winnipeg, which we usually call “Winterpeg”, because it gets down to -40 degrees on a regular basis during the winter – and that’s before the wind chill!!! Fun fact: it was colder here then on MARS last winter!!!! There are days where getting excercise outside is actually a danger to your health, so I am a big fan of workouts that I find on Youtube. Right now, I’m loving the barre style workouts. I keep motivated by reminding myself that I want to look/feel great when I get to go on vacation somewhere warm during spring break (which is in February here)! I LOVE the silver jacket – I have a ton of colorful scarves, so I prefer more neutral jackets – and the red Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Print boots!
Awesome post! The black jacket is super cute!
I’m going ice fishing in January and could use a new pair of boots!
I stay active in winter by taking pooch on long walks and hikes. He’s still a puppy so he’s very active, and needs his parents to keep up with him…the down jacket in silver or the cute black or brown minx boots would be a dream!
Purple jacket is awesome!
I’m all about the buddy system during the winter and getting up early to fit in a workout first thing!
I love doing at home circuits where I can heat on at a fairly moderate temperature but still get a good sweaty workout in! Now, that I moved to WA from CA, I am excited to go out and play in the snow!
Silver or black jacket. Love how thin it is!
I’d love to win the jacket! It’s a tough call on color, but I think I’d go with red.
I love how lightweight the down jacket is! Most warm jackets are so bulky. I would love one in black!
I love the jacket in purple!