Haha CLKD - you and your funny apron! At least I know what you mean now - not sure anyone else will though
Anyhoo ladylollipop - our metabolism slows as we age and I gather also around menopause whenever that it and also fat distribution changes from curvy to more up and down as we lose oestrogen and testosterone becomes a bit more dominant (even though that is also dropping!).
I have gained and lost weight on and off all the time throughout my life peri and post menopause, and on HRT. I have alos "heard" that Venlafaxene and similar can encourage weight gain - not sure if that's a myth though
Whatever the reason I do know that I and many others need to eat less and exercise more just to stay the same weight post-menopause, and for me it is like fighting a losing battle at the moment because I have put on a few pounds but don't like being hungry - and eat all the right things and very little of the wrong things and do exercise classes.
Some progestogens tend to cause bloating and also some HRT at the beginning. They will almost certainly increase boob size but that's not necessarily an issue. For me it is round my middle especially that I've gained recently.
As CLKD says - what is your diet and exercise regime like?
Cutting too much added fat, sugar and refined cabrs ( or indeed many added carbs) from your diet will help enomrously - but I do that and still putting on at the moment! Smaller portions ( I need to do this!) and increasing exercise little by litte wherever you can should also help - body conditioning classes (to increase musce which burns more calories at rest than fat) and aerobic ones too.
Hurdity x