The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Man’s ‘mission’ yielding results
Business owner’s commitment to getting healthy, changing life remains strong
The pain Marko Prpic feels every day is sharp and sustained, but he won’t use it as an excuse to give up.
“I got no cartilage in my knees — it’s bone on bone,” he said, preparing to work out at Against the Ropes Boxing Gym in Eastlake. “Since I’ve started here, I’ve gotten gel shots twice on each knee and cortisone done once on each knee. Typically, it’d last two to three weeks and it was over. Right now I’m hoping to get another shot soon. When I do have it, I feel great for a week or two.
“I have to get my knees done, reconstructive surgeries, but the doctors can’t really do anything until I’m under 300 (pounds), but you have to hold yourself accountable,” he continued. “I remind myself of that and anyone who wants to lose weight. Don’t make up excuses, and I used to do that. I want to get down to the weight I want and get in the ring to fight in the Masters (a USA Boxing division for male and female athletes 35
“My family feels great about my journey, too. Now, I just want to continue to get repaired, to get healthy. ” — Marko Prpic
and older). This mission of mine is hard, but it’s been wonderful, with a lot of ups and downs. I pretend no different.”
Prpic, 50, began his “mission” a year ago with Ken Curtis Jr., owner of Against the Ropes. The two began what Curtis Jr. describes as a “life transformation,” a fervent desire to get Prpic healthy.
And it’s paid dividends, as Prpic, who owns Eastside Relics in downtown Willoughby, has lost 210 pounds in less than a year.
“My highest was 627,” Prpic said, adding he’d lost 30 pounds while previously hospitalized. “I was about 597 when we began working together. I’m at 383 right now. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but overall this cause has been strong and steady. I’ve had bad weeks, and stress does play a part, but the main thing is no matter how I feel, I push myself. There have been plenty of days I didn’t want to come in, but I still show up.”
Prpic’s weekly weighins are documented by his doctors. A typical workout consists of stretches, shadow boxing, speed bag, heavy bags, aqua bags, battle ropes and dumbbell weights.
“We try and break it up a lot,” said Curtis Jr. “And other guys here, whom Marko calls a second family, work out with him and get inspired. We’ve progressed incrementally each day. Same thing with his eating habits, they’ve changed as well. Most importantly, his mindset’s changed. Everyone’s
“Even though he’s losing the weight, with no (weight loss) surgeries whatsoever, and doing phenomenal job, every day is a battle. Stress is a factor also. It’s not that you’re doing anything wrong, but we go back and forth with these connections. I have to get in his head . ... ” — Trainer Ken Curtis Jr.
body is different, and, again, and I can’t stress this enough, this is not a diet. People need to understand that.
“Even though he’s losing the weight, with no (weight loss) surgeries whatsoever, and doing phenomenal job, every day is a battle. Stress is a factor also. It’s not that you’re doing anything wrong, but we go back and forth with these connections. I have to get in his head. We analyze each other. Behavior, body language is also a key. But he’s redirected things.”
The journey hasn’t been without missteps, Prpic readily admits.
“As I was losing the weight, the third month, I was feeling good and the old posse called me up and I went out,” he said. “I drank too much and ended up in the hospital because my body wasn’t used to having the alcohol. I was real with Coach Ken, too, and he said he wouldn’t work with me if something like that happened again. I’ve been clean since.”
Despite the setback, and occasional weight fluctuation, Curtis Jr. sees a totally different person in Prpic.
“It’s challenging for him and more than just physically,” Curtis Jr. said. “He’s got a hernia, in addition to his knee pain. But he understands the daily development. You have to work for progress, not perfection. He’s motivated on his own, but I want him to continue to know that he’s not on this journey by himself. We’ve developed a great relationship. I always tell him, ‘You can do this. Let’s focus on today.’ ”
Prpic has no illusions about any alternative scenarios, and doesn’t mince words when expressing the importance of Curtis Jr.’s presence in his life.
“If it wasn’t for Coach Ken’s relentlessness, I’d be dead now,” he said. “I used to tell my brother, Tony, all the time I wasn’t going to live past 52. It was hard to walk, it was hard to breathe. Before, to get around, I had to carry oxygen, and was told that I’d be on it the rest of my life. I don’t carry any with me now.
“My family feels great about my journey, too. Now, I just want to continue to get repaired, to get healthy. I want to become a trainer at Against the Ropes and help others. I also want to continue my friendship with Coach Ken. I tell him all the time, he’s more than my trainer, he’s my cornerman in life.”