I have been making my own kit for over 30 years, did some design work for Craghoppers and Snowdon Clothing (among others) and love sewing
To be fair with that history I should be better than I actually am ... I "talk" to my sewing too much!
As to the weight - it needed losing!
Even if my wife denies that I have any "will-power" she does admit that I can be stubborn once I decide on something.
I only have 4lb to go to my "Target Weight" and I am looking forward to some filing meals