HRT has helped enormously with my symptoms and I have a lot more energy. I am losing weight very slowly, but I have been hiking and doing resistance training for the past month or so, and I have lost two inches on my abdomen and I am much smoother/tighter all over. I'm no longer focusing on weight and instead I am working on my fitness/strength levels. I do not think I would have the energy without HRT. I have been looking at some studies that promote resistance training for menopause, with or without HRT. It goes a long way toward retaining and increasing lean body mass, which we tend to lose after menopause. I have started very light, but already see some good strength gains and positive physical changes.

I belong to a gym and I follow this routine: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/beginner_weight_training.htm

You could probably find a similar full body beginning workout using inexpensive elastic bands. Here is one: http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=982

The cancer risk with HRT is still controversial. There was a study that showed an increased cancer risk, but many doctors have back down from the alarmism that caused. I weighed my quality of life and osteoporosis risk against what I view as a minimal cancer risk for me. I have a healthy lifestyle, I'm overweight but not obese, and I have no significant family history of cancer. I do have a higher risk of osteoporosis because I was hyperthyroid for many years. My symptoms were also significant. I had extreme fatigue, recurrent sinus infections and other illnesses, and near constant migraines (I have a prior diagnosis of daily chronic headache that was managed until my hormones dropped). I can't say how things will weigh out for you. I will say that doctors seem to distinguish between starting hormones for women that are older and years past menopause and women that start shortly after menopause. It appears that the former have higher health risks, and the prior study seemed to use those women as its subjects. Again though, this is one of those things that each person has to research and decide for themselves.

As for weight gain, specifically -- I have some bloating off and on that seems to be water, just as I would get with PMS, but it may also be due to exercise. In addition, I do not expect to see rapid weight loss due to the resistance training. Muscles hold a lot of water when you are starting out, and it is denser than fat, so an increase in muscle can decrease size without decreasing weight. Although I have lost two inches around my middle, I have lost only about four pounds. More muscle increases metabolism, so right now I am focusing on building muscle and then later I will decrease calories again if I still need to lose weight. I'm smaller and happy with the shape my body is taking, so I'm not too worried about weight loss at this point.

I've been on the HRT for a few months now and I'm still happy with it. Since I made that first post, I have broken through any plateau and I am losing weight at a steady rate. I no longer have the "apple" shape. I'm not sure how long I will be on it, but I just had an exam with a negative endometrial biopsy and normal pap, with a recommendation to see my gyno again next year. So, another year at least. I am not alarmed at all at the cancer risks, which seem to be regarded as pretty minimal at this point for someone that fits my profile.

I have no testosterone either but my provider can't prescribe it. They will refer me to a compounding pharmacist who can prepare it for me. I'm not sure how much a difference it would make, but I am considering it.