Internet newspaper publisher: Healthy, happy and dressed for success

Headline Surfer Editor/Publisher Henry FrederickHenry FrederickPhotos by Serafina Frederick / Headline Surfer Editor/Publisher Henry Frederick is shown at left leaving his New Smyrna Beach home, and in the inset, moderating public candidate debates.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- I've started dressing for success and it is paying dividends.

Most of my reporting life, I've dressed blue collar with the exception of funerals, a formal dinner or covering a high profile case in court. Those days are over.

Because I specialized in breaking news over the years, being dressed up didn't make a lot of sense for me.

I never wanted to give anyone the impression I was better than them because many of the people I interacted with were either victims of crime or poor or both. But my life is different now. I'm no longer just a reporter or editor. I'm the publisher of a 24/7 Internet newspaper where bringing in revenue is as critical, if not more so, than even covering the news.

I went through a rough time in my early 40s. My mother died, I lost my beloved reporting job in Daytona Beach and I went through a divorce. Even though, I got back on my feet pretty quickly with my career, I wasn't happy. Like anyone going through a mid-life crisis, the vices are tempting: Extra-marital affair, booze or food to name a few. I chose the latter.

From my college days until those early 40s, I was a strong guy, with broad shoulders and a washboard stomach, even though I was short (that hasn't changed). I started eating and stopped exercising. I went from 185 to 200. By my mid 40s, I put on another 25 pounds or so.

A little than two years ago, I tipped the scales at 265. It got to the point where I was forced to wear pull-over shirts that hang over my belly and shorts and sneakers. Because of my height and weight, I knew I would likely die if I didn't do something about it. I re-married three years ago and continued the responsibility of raising my son and my namesake, now 18, and continuing to build the Internet newspaper.

I started getting sick more often and either sleeping too much or not enough. Fast food runs in the car were my source of exercise. My metabolism was shot and my breathing worsened with colds turning into bronchitis. The lung infections triggered more and more asthma attacks. 

Then things started to turn around. I moved with my wife and kid to the gated Sugar Mill. Though I had no interest in golf, I did start going to the swimming pool in my area neighborhood, roughly 25 homes. Because most of the neighbors are elderly and rarely used it, I did. I don't know how to swim, but I can dog-paddle. I spent hours at a time in that pool and started to feel more alive. I wasn't as hungry either. I stopped the fast food runs and started drinking more water. I also ate more fruits and cereal. 

My waist started to shrink and the over-sized shirts and shirts were hanging on me. I was able to fit into an older suit when my wife suggested I buy a new suit or two. After a few weeks, I had an entirely new wardrobe. Now everywhere I go, I get compliments on how I look and carry myself, even from people I've met for the first time.

My goal now is to take off another 20 pounds and then I can get back to playing tennis and riding my bike.

Today, I am healthier and happier than I've been in years. I feel like a million bucks. Some people even think I'm rich because of the neighborhood even though our home is small, the two Audi TT sports cars I drive (white convertible and red coupe) and the way I dress. I can assure you I am far from rich. 

Like everyone else, I am struggling to survive in this terrible economy where advertising is a tough sell even with our ever-increasing readership, but I continue to work hard and hope for the best. I'm blessed to have my family, my education and career. And at the ripe old age of 50, I'm healthier, happy and dressed for success.

Headline Surfer is Florida's first 24/7 Internet newspaper launched April 7, 2008, initially as NSBNews.net. It is based in New Smyrna Beach, covering Volusia County and throughout the Orlando Metropolitan Area via HeadlineSurfer.com, NSBNews.net and VolusiaNews.net. "Headline Surfer" is a registered trademark owned by NSB News LLC, for editorial, marketing and advertising purposes. All rights reserved.