I had a sister who was a heavy smoker and weighed 500 pounds 5’4” tall, she passed away last summer at 38 years old. four children and a husband left behind. She did it to herself. Drinking diet soda, eating tons of food and smoking her self to death.
First off, my deep sympathies to yuo and your family for the passing of your sister. I have yet to lose a sibling but I am sure I will be devastated. I will add you and your family in my evening prayers for comfort.
I think we are talking about the observed physiological effects on our metabolism after quitting smoking. The anecdotes are certainly trending in the same direction -- weight gain AFTER quitting.
I had a friend who passed (also too young: in his early 60s) who was already overweight and a heavy smoker. His doctor told him to not even try to quit -- said doctor feared the additional weight gain sure to follow (and stress, etc.). I lost a mentor and a true friend when he passed.
My mother also smoked and it led to her early demise (well, that and 7 kids to be brought up alone: she was married when all were borne -- another story for another thread)
Sometimes the sum total of the abuses one heaps on the body eventually catch up :(
God gave us a lot of resilience mechanisms but they can only be stretched so far.