Hi GemmaW
You haven't said which type of HRT you are on? if you are on tablet HRT then you need to monitor your thyroid levels as oral oestrogen can affect how much thyroid medication you need. Going by your symptoms it sounds like they are out of whack - if you are tired and suffering hair loss ( feeling cold?) as well as the weight gain - then these are classic signs of underactive thyroid and as you suffer from this already this would be the first place I would look to make some changes. Ask doc for full panel of thyroid function tests and don't be fobbed off by "normal" if at the upper/lower end of normal for that hormone. Can you adjust your medication?
Having said that - the others have also said that shape changes when you reach menopause ie more fat is laid down round the middle - not especially the front of the belly though (more like the whole midriff from below the boobs) - this is more to do with muscle control if it is sticking out - but if it's fat - then it could be due to thyroid or the fact that metabolism begins to slow at menopause and some muscle wasting occurs - gets harder to build muscle?
I don't have a fat belly even though I'm a few pounds heavier than I should be - would love to lose about 5 pounds but tricky as I get so hungry! The only way I keep it flat is by exercise - I go to Pilates and we do abs exercise - you can do these at home too.
Yes CLKD always makes us giggle when she talks about her apron - none of the rest of us have one of these nor have heard of it - at least - I wear one for cooking
Try not to change your wardrobe although if it's your waistline that has thickened - I find mine will never be what it was even when I lose weight. That has been my one rule to prevent weight gain over the past 10 years or so - not to buy clothes in a bigger size. If I feel them getting tight - then time to do more exercise and cut down the carbs etc! The worst thing is trying on my shorts at the beginning of the summer - they're always tight - but I soon get into them after a bit of effort (with food and exercise!). I would recommend that tip to anyone - has stood me in good stead. I did succumb during peri and started going up szies but soon saw the light and thought that was a hide to nowhere (is that the phrase?) - didn't want to be fat and unhealthy in my old age! I also keep records of my weight and have my eeek moments when I need to do something about it!
However for you the first thing is to make sure thyroid function is sorted as weight gain from that would be beyond your control for the most part.....
Hurdity x
