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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Oh my gosh…I love both the jacket and the boots! I love to head to the mountains in the winter just to play in the snow. A full day of running around with kids in the snow is a great workout!
I love the black jacket! It might actually inspire me to get active in the winter! I’m took much of a wimp, so I’m always cold. That would probably keep me super toasty!
I love the Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print boots! They are so so cute!
Must have those short printed minx!
I would love the jacket in black!
Love the jacket in black!
Winter is the outside season in central Texas. I look forward to it all year. It’s the best time for rock climbing and camping! 😀
Those boots look amazing – the Women’s Minx Pull On Omni-Heat in red would be my pick!
We just moved to the midwest and are gearing up for our first cold winter in years, that black Turbodown jacket would be amazing to have!
I only love winter if I am dressed for it, I hate being cold! I love the Women’s Min Mid II Omni-Heat Print in white. So cute.
I love the tall boots on the left in black. I’m from Boston, I know winter and I need new boots. I like that they are slip on, my old bean boots have had it.
The workouts I choose in the winter months tend to be BeachBody DVD workouts. I’m starting insanity for the second time on November 1st and that’ll last 90 days!
I like the silver or black jacket! I live in CO and could definitely use a jacket like that this winter!
I motivate myself to stay active in the winter because I know the winter is about comfort classics like Hot Chocolate and warm Apple Cider and I make sure I do a workout before I indulge in the treats of the season! I either head to the gym in the winter months or I bundle up and face the cold!
I love the Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print boots! They will keep your feet warm and dry but are cute at the same time. And I love that pull on, so you don’t have to worry about laces with your hands have giant gloves on them 🙂
I love the bright red color of the jacket! It’s be great for winter walks 🙂
ahh I love the jacket in red and the brown boots!
I love the Minx Pull On Omni Heat boots…but maybe in the red instead of the brown! This will be my first winter with a dog in the city. The pull on boots would be perfect for morning dog walks or my walking commute!
I am in need of a new pair of boots! I love the Minx Mid II, red. Living in Colorado I could definitely use them!
I would love to have a short down jacket for active outdoor workouts in cold weather. Totally into the black or silver!
Hi, Julie! Your tips are great ones. Having lived in the midwest my whole life, I know first-hand the battle of the cold! You suggested what I was thinking already, have at home workouts! I use dvds and xbox360 games to make it more fun. If I win, I would take either prize. Thank you for being so generous!
I try my hardest to not let the weather stop me from my normal workouts, but I love adding in fun winter activities that I can’t do during the rest of the year, like ice skating!
I love the red jacket!
Hi! I love the boots like you have. I will really need them if our winter is anything like last year.
I would love a new pair of winter boots. I like the boots on the left – in a grey color. Great giveaway. In the winter I like to run in the snow and take my dog on walks.
I like the jacket in both purple and red!
I think that jacket is awesome in red, but I think my first pick would be silver.
I love the boots you have!
I love the jacket in black! It’s finally starting to get cold here, so it’s time to start thinking about outerwear.
I love the bright red jacket! It is such a fun color for the winter!
I would LOVE those Minx Pull on Omni Heat tan boots! So obsessed with boots right now and they look so gosh darn cozy.
I’d love to get the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Print in Winter White. It sounds like I’m going to need them for Snowmagedon this winter…
I like the jacket in black and the boots that you have on look very neutral.
Both the jacket and the boots look awesome! I love to bundle up for walks and hikes in the winter. I also enjoy some at-home workouts and keep up with classes at the gym, boots or a jacket like this are perfect to keep me warm before and after workouts.
Love the red jacket!
I would love the red colombia jacket!! I’ve been looking for a new insulated jacket to wear this winter–plus it’ll keep me extra motivated to run this winter and perfect for snowboarding on New Years 😉
I love the red jacket you have! Would be perfect for my winter marathon training!
The silver jacket would be wonderful for running outside in the cold Pittsburgh winters!
Taking my 8 year old and 11 year old skiing for the first time in January! Would LOVE LOVE the red jacket! They’ll be able to find me too with such a bright color!
My feet get so cold outside in Michigan winters, and even go numb, so I think these boots would be just the ticket! I love the Minx Mid II Omni-Heat in Shale!
the Omni-heat boots!! I’ve been looking around to get new boots for this winter so my feet don’t go numb on my walks/hikes!!!
I like the black jacket! I like to camp in the winter and this would be perfect.
I love the pull on print boots– they would be perfect for winters at my parents’ house in Wisconsin!
I’m a jacket lover. In the winter I love burning calories riding motocorss–it’s a hard core total body work out.
Favorite thing to do is definitely ice skating! It doesn’t feel like exercise but you’ll feel pretty sore afterwards 😛 and it’s a lot of fun
I want a pair of winter boots SO BADLY! I am loving the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot!
Love the purple jacket!
How great! Since I’m a North Florida girl myself, I’d choose the jacked in red. Maybe I’ll win this time!!! 🙂
I think I’d have to try the Minx Mid-II Omni Heat
Oooh I love all of the colors!!! I would be happy with any, but if I had to choose, I think probably black. 🙂 And the shoes are adorable too! Such a great giveaway!