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 either! The boots are super adorable and the coat looks warm! I live in MN so a nice warm coat is always needed.
What a great giveaway!!!! I love both! I have been in medical school in Erie PA and the lake effect snow and winds are brutal in the winter! I would love the jacket in the cute red color you have or classic black! And the boots sound amazing! I would appreciate either!!
I live in Montreal Canada and I could definitely use the jacket! I always wear black, so id change things up and go with the red!
I Love the red jacket!
I would never pick out those boots, but they look awesome on you and they’re my favorite out of the 10 choices! I also love the jacket, I’d pick the purple or red. I like to ski in the wintertime to keep active, I also stick with crossfit all throughout the winter and I think knowing if I stop now how much muscle I will lose keeps me motivated!
I love the Minx boots in the light brown! They’ll be perfect for staying warm while taking my students outside for recess each day during the winter!
I would love to win the jacket in black… (I am overly simplistic when it comes to colors in my wardrobe)!
As the weather has been getting colder I’ve realized I’m totally short on winter gear so I would love to win either the jacket or the Minx Mid II Omni-heat boots! I think skiing is probably my favorite winter activity, but even just taking long walks in the snow is beautiful! I love how refreshing it feels to come home into a warm house after spending time out in the cold.
Shorty print or mid I omni but also love red jacket
I love the red jacket! Columbia is one of my favorite brands.
I’ve been looking for a jacket like this for a while and would love to own one in black!
I would truly love to win either the down jacket in black or the minx boots! I bought some panks from Columbia last winter with the omni heat and they were hands down my best purchase of the year!! I hate being cold, but love to be outside in any temp.
I love the boots & the jacket!
My favorite ways to stay motivated in the winter are to try new classes at the gym. If that fails…..new gyms clothes always help! Or convincing a friend we need to work-out together!
Love the purple jacket!
Thanks for the giveaway Julie!I would love the jacket in red. It looks great on you, I think it’d be perfect to brighten up the gloom winter months.
Love the red jacket you’re wearing! The jacket would make the transition into colder weather a little more welcome 🙂
I love the jacket! I would get it in black.
I would love the jacket for those cold Pittsburgh winters. Purple is my favorite color, so I naturally love the purple jacket!
What a great giveaway! I love the Minx Shorty Omni Heat boots in red!
I would love to win the jacket in black, and the boots you are wearing are so cute!
I love both! They look super cute and comfy. I like the boots that you have and, although I normally lean towards black, I like the purple jacket! I try to stay out and active even when it’s cold out. The cold can be invigorating!
I’d love the jacket in black 🙂 my favorite outdoor winter activity is a spontaneous snowball fight!
I live in Calgary, AB….Canada. My favorite thing to do in the winter is take my dog to the dog park, especially in the snow :). I love, love the purple jacket!!!!
I love both the boots and the jacket!!! I would love to see either for the winter months. I am from Wyoming, so I know exactly what it means to bundle up and run or hike outside. However, my favorite way to stay active in the winter is to ski!! Just putting on all the ski wear is a work out. I always sweat before I even get to the slopes! 🙂
I’m interested in both! I usually tend to stick to indoor workout because it gets so cold here in the midwest during the winter. This allows we to try the different class my gym offers.
Minx boots in Elk Grizzly Bear all the way!! Thanks for the great giveaways!
I live in WI so I definitely know the struggles of being outside in the winter. The right gear definitely helps though. Both the coat and boots look like they would be awesome!
Snowball fights with with family are my favorite winter activity! 🙂
I love the Minx Shorty Omni-Heat, so cute!
I love the look of the Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print in the colour that you chose. I think they would be a great boot for the winter months to stay dry and warm! I would love these
purple! so stylish
The Minx boots in the Elk Grizzly Bear all the way!! Being a native of FL & now living in Pennsylvania I could really use some boots! Thanks for the great giveaways!!
Snowshoeing! Have you ever done it? If not, you definitely should this winter.
Normally I’d go for a black jacket, but the red looks so cute on you I’m going to have to say red! Thanks for this great giveaway!
I love the brown boots! Looks super comfy! Thanks!
I love the bright color of the purple jacket! It would be perfect for walking to class on cold winter mornings!
Love the red jacket!
Great giveaway – thanks, Julie! My favorite winter activity is going for a walk after it’s just snowed. Living in a city, I’m definitely motivated to go out when the snow’s still fresh 🙂
I love the shorty omni heat herringbone in brown!
I would love some warm boots for wintertime in Kentucky!
I would like the black minx shorty tie boots or the red parka.
I love the jacket in black!
Wow, I love the Minx Pull On Omni-Heat Print boots that you have, too cute! It just started snowing where I live, so I may have to pick a pair of those up ASAP! I also love that purple jacket… Looks so toasty warm!
I’d love the black jacket!
Love them both! Either would be helpful (and cute!) to keep me warm on winter walks with our new dog 🙂
I love the jacket!! Torn between the red or purple.
I would love the black jacket – all of the products shown look amazing though, thank you for hosting such awesome givewaways!
SILVER!!! 🙂
I LOVE taking walks in the snow. Especially when it is first starting, so pretty!!
I LOVE the Women’s Minx™ Shorty Omni-Heat™ Print – would be so nice for Wisconsin winters! 🙂
Wow, this is such an awesome giveaway! The jacket looks super warm and so do the boots! I think I would be equally happy to win either! Anything that keeps me warm in the winter is good in my book!
Tough choice! I’d love either the boots or the jacket but don’t have any real winter boots. The Minx pull on that you have is fab!