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WINNEBAGO - Mike and Sheryl Gunzenhauser want to keep up with their grandchildren and watch them grow up, so that's why they decided to open M&S Fitness Center in Winnebago.

"I think it's something we needed for a long time," said Mike, who also owns Mike's Ag.

The couple came up with the idea more than a year ago.

"Right after Mike got the idea, we heard MC Fitness was coming to town," she said. "We didn't want to have two of them in town, so we decided to drop it."

The owner of MC Fitness is renting the former Winnebago Museum building from the city and has equipment in it; however, the center has not opened after more than a year.

The couple decided they were tired of waiting to begin their own fitness goals, and they're ready to help others achieve theirs.

"We really want to stress, we want it to be a friendly, small-town, non-intimidating environment," Sheryl said, who also owns Gift Basket's and More in town. "Come with your friends and get in shape."

"Our main goal for wanting to do this, we both want to get healthy," Sheryl said. "We don't have an excuse if we have a fitness center. We have little people, grandkids. Those little people grow up. We want to see them grow old."

The center is located at 16 Cleveland Avenue East and will be open 24 hours starting today. The building is set up in a former office space, so workout areas are divided and more private - a feature Sheryl likes.

"I hate going to bigger gyms," she said, adding that facilities packed with people are overwhelming.

The center has a circuit training room, a side room with two treadmills and another room with ellipticals and other equipment. It also has a restroom and changing room. Sheryl is also looking into offering classes.

Sheryl said M&S Fitness is working with five insurance companies. Blue Cross Blue Shield already approved the business, and insurance information will be posted once approvals come in. Many insurance companies offer a reduction in health center fees if a patron goes a minimum amount per month.

Sheryl said they've already had a lot of people taking a sneak peak and pre-registering.

"I think it's what Winnebago needs," she said. "Blue Earth has a few (centers), but a lot of people don't want to drive to Blue Earth for a half hour (workout). ... This is much more convenient for people in town."

M&S Fitness is waiving its enrollment fee when people bring in unexpired items for the food shelf.

M&S Fitness can be reached at (507) 893-3088. Sheryl said they plan to have the office staffed the first week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for registrations.