As Halloween is now approaching, it’s time to get ready for some cold weather. Sorry to say it, but it’s true. It’s almost time to break out the old winter jackets and boots to stay warm or snag a new pair of boots and jacket like I did.
This winter will be a bit different for me as it’s my first winter living in the South! I’m expecting it to get cold but not nearly as cold as it was last year in the Midwest (If you lived through the terrible winter in the Midwest last year, you can probably understand why I moved South right after haha). Even though I’ll be living in Charleston, SC this winter, I’ll be traveling quite a bit to Chicago for the holidays so I wanted to make sure I’m prepared for the cold.
If there were two things I’ve learned from living in Chicago nearly my whole life, it’s that you need to invest in a good winter jacket and boots to get you through each winter. Well..this year I’m prepared with the best jacket and boots I’ve ever owned! I can’t wait until it gets colder so I can wear these cuties more often.
Now I’m ready to head back to Chicago for the holidays 🙂 Check out my new snow gear…
Get ready to fall in love with these cutie booties!
So adorable, right?!? I’m obsessed. They are the Columbia Minx Omni-Heat boots (found here).
I can’t wait to wear them with skinny jeans or leggings and a long sweater. They are like a warm cozy jacket for your feet. They have faux fur at the top and reflective lining inside to retain heat. If you’re going to buy these shoes, I’d suggest buying a half size higher than you normally do (I’m an 8.5 but I’d buy a 9 next time) especially if you plan on ever wearing heavy duty socks. They are very comfortable though!
Also, here’s my new Columbia Turbodown jacket (found here).
It will be the staple to my winter wardrobe this year. Guaranteed.
I was shocked when the box came in the mail with this jacket inside. It was SO incredibly light that I didn’t know how it could be a full winter jacket inside the package. It really is just a lightweight jacket because it’s made with a combination of Omni-Heat synthetic insulation and 800-fill goose down for ultimate lightweight warmth and heat retention, even when wet.
The inside of the jacket is lined with a reflective material that is designed to retain heat and keep you warm.
How cool and advanced, right?? A light weight jacket that is cute AND warm? YES PLEASE!
I wish it was snowing right now so I could wear my new jacket and boots ASAP!
I’m pretty sure I’ve NEVER ever EVER wished for snow IN MY LIFE… until now.
Now that we’re talking about the cold weather, I wanted to share a few of my favorite winter workouts (or things I want to do) during the cold winter months to stay active.
Top 5 Winter Workouts
1. Go Skiing
I REALLY want to go skiing this winter. It’s been so long since I’ve gone skiing. Maybe I’ll take a trip to the Rocky Mountains this year. Let’s just hope they have some baby hills for me to practice on first or it won’t be a pretty sight!
Did you know a 155lb person can burn almost 1,000 calories in two hours from skiing or snowboarding? Sign me up!
2. Go Ice skating
Ice skating isn’t just for children, it’s a great workout! Find a local ice skating rink and lace up your blades for a fun workout. If you don’t want to go to a public ice skating rink because it’s over crowded, find a private one or a solid lake in your friend’s backyard (be careful if you do that, though!!!).
Did you know a 155lb person can burn 483 calories during an hour of ice skating?
3. Hiking / Snowshoeing
I’ve never gone snowshoeing but it looks like a challenging workout. Snowshoeing is basically walking in deep snow so if you can walk, you can snowshoe. Have you ever tried to run in deep snow? I know I have, and it’s tough! It’s like doing a “high-knees” workout and you’ll get tired quickly.
Expect to burn around 520 calories in an hour of snowshoeing. The deeper the snow (and less packed), the harder the workout.
4. Sledding
Take the family to the neighborhood sledding hill and go sledding. There’s nothing better than staying active and having fun in the snow with your loved ones. Climbing back up the sledding hill can be quite a challenge and since you’re so excited to go back down the hill, you may not even realize you’re getting a good workout in! You’ll also create some great family memories when Dad slips and falls on his butt 🙂
Sledding for 60 minutes can usually burn around 485 calories an hour (for a 155lb person).
5. Shovel the driveway
Shoveling the driveway is a hard workout! If you aren’t lucky enough to have a snow blower (I’ve never had one) then you’ll have to shovel your driveway the hard way. Turn the pesky chore into an opportunity to get a good workout in.
I remember wearing my heart rate monitor once while shoveling our long driveway last winter and I burned around 400 calories and was actually sore the next day!
Always remember to WARM UP and stretch your muscles before working out in cold weather. Even though you may just be shoveling your driveway, it’s always wise to stretch a warm up a little beforehand. Your muscles will always be tighter when it’s colder and more prone to injury without a proper warm-up.
What are your favorite winter workouts? Leave a comment below!
Disclosure: 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.”