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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Silver jacket!
Either prize would definitely help stay active this winter! Thankfully I have to walk quite a bit on my college campus, but even some days are so cold it takes a little extra convincing to go to class. The boots or the jacket would definitely be any convincing I would need to get out!
Oh… the black jacket is so perfect! I love it!
I love the purple jacket!
I love it all. I trained for my first half marathon through the winter two years ago. It kept me moving and active all winter, and I didn’t get sick once that year. An early Spring half is also a great way time of the year for speedy finishes.
Would LOVE that bright red. I can see myself running around the park. looking forward to pushing through winter challenges. good luck everyone!
I stay active in the winter by bundling up and going for a run if I can, or just by spending some time playing in the snow! It can be a workout!
Columbia makes such cute outerwear! I’d love to win the Minx Mid II Omni-Heat boots in shale.
I would love the jacket in black!
I absolutely love the Minx boots you have above: Minx Pull On Omni-Heat Print. I feel winter boots never have fun prints so I’m excited to see this! Would love to win them!
I would love the silver jacket!
I would love the purple jacket! In need of a lightweight (but warm!) winter jacket for walks with my pup this winter 🙂
I would choose the Women’s Minx Slip II Omni-Heat boots!
I would love the jacket in Hyper Purple!
I would love either the jacket or the boots! I’m from up in New Hampshire but am living in Boston so I’ve been through and am anticipating plenty of VERY cold winters! To stay active, I run, ski, and hike through the winter and I think these boots and jacket would be the perfect addition to my winter workout gear!
I love both the red Turbo Down jacket and the black/charcoal Minx Mid II Omni Heat Boot! Very stylish and practical for Maryland winters! During the winter time the treadmill can get boring so I use the Tone It Up workouts online to mix it up and keep it fun! Their latest kettle bell workout is the BEST! Thanks for a great winter giveaway!!
I would love the black jacket. It would match my adorable labrador’s winter coat. Mommy and daughter long walks in winter 😉
I’d love the jacket in red hibiscus! It’d be great for skiing or making snowmen with my niece!
I love that coat!! I’d go with black since it will match everything… but the other colors sure are fun!
I would love the pull-on Minx boots! Perfect for the winter!
What an awesome giveaway! I’m pretty boring and stick to the gym in the winter. But my husband really wants to get me into cross country skiing. We’ll see.
i like both! fave thing to do in the winter time since it’s so darn cold is to work out with my sister, she’s great at keeping me accountable and has a ton of great workout dvds!
I love both the jacket and the boots…I would also pick the Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print, so unique!
I love the jacket! Black would be my favorite!
I love sledding with my kiddos! I am usually the only mom out there inviting my kids to get back on the sled so I can pull them up, a little cardio and strength training! Totally need the coat or boots to keep me warm in Iowa winters!
I love the jacket and need it for our Minnesota winters! I like the purple or the silver.
I love the red jacket!
Love the red jacket. But I love boots too! I live in Idaho and have one coat with omniheat and it’s awesome.
I LOVE Colombia coats! I would be elated to own another one!!
Congrats on completing the Pure Barre challenge. Wish we had a location here in Canada….where it is chilly in the winter !! That gorgeous black jacket would be used daily and so I would love to be entered into the draw for it! I love your blog. I look forward to reading it every day 🙂
I would love the boots but honestly can’t pick which pair ! Maybe the black mid II omni heat !
Thanks, Julie !
I have a 3 year old so I am pretty active during the winter months he loves to get outside regardless of the the weather we just make sure to stay moving to keep warm.
I would love to have both the jacket and the boots! For some reason, the red boots are calling my name! This will be my first winter living in a small town with no gym. So I will be doing Insanity, Pinterest home workouts and some cross country skiing!
Love the jacket in black!
Love the idea of trying a new class for motivation- maybe Pure Barre!
I love the pull on omni heat boots. These look amazing!
I love those boots!! I would choose the minx pull on boots 🙂 I hope to incorporate some snowshoeing in my winter activities this year!
I would love either! Thanks for showing them to us! I add in some extra classes to stay motivated and try to buy some cute winter gear so that I can get outside!!
I love the red jacket!
Julie – I would be honoured to win either the coat (I’d probably go with black although the red is fun!), but I could also really use a new pair of warm boots for the winter. I love the pair you have on. It gets pretty darn cold up here in Alberta, Canada and one of the big things that keeps me indoors more than I would like is cold feet. But I love getting outdoors and now that I have an 8 month old, fresh air daily is a must!
Cute boots! I would choose the minx II omni-heat boots in sadle! 🙂
I would love the silver for evening walks! It looks reflective enough to stay safe at dusk!
I’m loving that purple jacket!
Either the jacket or the boots would be awesome! So, to stay active in the winter..I like to have a challenge with my family members to stay active every day..snowshoeing, shoveling the driveway, doing a HIIT workout in the basement or even just going on a long walk in the snow.
I would love the jacket in red! Just moved to Colorado and could definitely use a warm jacket for skiing!
I would love the jacket in black!
I would love to have either of the boots or jacket! In the winter a bunch of our friends always go up to a friends house in Vermont to ski and snowboard as our way of staying active!
I really love Minx shorty omni-heat print boot in bright red. This is an AMAZING giveaway. Thank you so much.
I would love the purple jacket for my school!! Go Frogs
Love the silver jacket!