Wether on HRT or not, I'm afraid it is normal to find the weight starts to gather around tummy, hips and waist - that's why it's called middle age spread. Dieting doesn't really help and exercise can only do so much. One does have to reduce the amount you eat by about one third and really stop anything sugary - this is not a diet, this has to be every day.
I was quite ill earlier this year and could barely eat anything, I lost about a stone but nothing came off my tummy and hips - so annoying, as I looked scrawny everywhere else.
It's very tough for us at this time in our lives. Don't blame the HRT - it's just what happens. DG x