"There are no excuses — it's time to get real about your health," owner Dori Garske exclaims from the newly opened Anytime Fitness Express just north of Crooked Lake in Siren.

"The name says it all," she continued. "You can get a workout 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

"We knew there was a need in the community for something like this so we decided to press forward and meet that need," Larry Garske explained.

But the Garske's have a personal stake in opening the center as well.

"My husband has diabetes and since we opened and has been working out, he has been insulin-free," Dori said.

Anytime Fitness Express opened June 20.

"It's been well-received," Dori said. "Industry people were telling us it doesn't work to open a gym in the summer but we had people asking when we were going to open, so we opened."

"I like it because it's handy, it's on the way home from work," member Roberta Bitler said. "They have lots of good machines."

The gym is outfitted with top-of-the-line equipment which include treadmills, ellipticals, recumbent bicycles, a full complement of free weights and 13 selectorized weight machines.

"We did our research and got good equipment," Dori explained.

"We looked at 40 gyms and fell in love with Life Fitness equipment," Larry added. "It's very ergonomically correct."

But having great equipment is meaningless unless people are there to use it so creating the proper atmosphere is tantamount.

"Providing a comfortable, non-judgmental, non-threatening environment is important to me," Dori explained. "I know a lot of our members never belonged to a fitness center before, are nervous and don't know what to expect."

"My job is to take away that nervousness, make them feel at home and let them concentrate on improving their personal health," she continued.

"I love the place," member Donna Bennett exclaimed. "It's very convenient, and the staff is very friendly and helpful."

The gym is also proud to offer two personal trainers on staff.

"The trainers are important because they help people reach their goals," Dori said.

In addition to the training area, there is a private shower room, a bathroom, an office, plus room for future expansion.

"We had members already ask us about adding tanning, so that's something we may consider," Larry said.

The gym has been open for two months and already boasts about 100 members.

"Our goal is to be here for the long term," Dori pointed out. "If people commit to be fit, we want to be here for them."

Larry agreed.

"It probably won't happen in a month or two, but I guarantee you'll see a difference if you work hard," he said.

The gym is staffed from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

"Customer service is what it is all about," the Garske's said. "We need to be at the club to provide good service including a clean environment and well-maintained equipment."

Security in a 24-hour facility is huge and Larry said there are security cameras installed throughout the building and each member gets an electronic key fob which allows them access to the gym.

Larry said the Siren gym is the 1,777th Anytime Fitness franchise to open since the company began in 2002. "They're all still open," he pointed out.

One of the added benefits of membership to Anytime Fitness in Siren is you have joined the entire network. If you happen to be on vacation in Tucson, AZ, for instance, you could go to an Anytime Fitness gym there, swipe your fob, and get inside to workout.

Anytime Fitness will be having its grand opening and member appreciation celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 6.

Potential members are invited to tour the facility and try the equipment.