The first trimester is hell, you can’t get out of bed, you can’t eat anything because of the nausea, headaches are horrible, and the mood swings?! Like, everything my husband did and said would piss me off — it’s a nightmare to be pregnant!

That’s what I was told by friends, family, and movies, yet my experience was completely different.

They told me the first trimester would be absolute misery—morning sickness, exhaustion, and mood swings 24/7. But… that was all a lie, that wasn’t my experience at all. In fact, some of the biggest ‘truths’ about the first trimester turned out to be completely wrong. So if you’re newly pregnant and feeling anxious about what’s ahead, let’s talk about what actually happened during my first trimester experience—because every pregnancy is different and uniquely yours, and there’s so much I wish I knew sooner.

Girl, deja te cuento the four lies I was told about the first trimester. Let me know in the comments which one surprised you the most. The last one surprised me the most!

Lie #1: All first trimesters are horrible

Let’s take a step back and look at history. Pregnancy used to be seen as a beautiful, transformative experience—a time of empowerment and connection to the matriarchal wisdom of women. But over time, as society shifted to a more patriarchal view, pregnancy became medicalized. Don’t get me wrong—medical advancements have made childbirth safer, but they’ve also introduced more fear and less emphasis on the mental health of moms.

Hollywood, the media, and even negative comments from friends can really alter your experience. Think about it—how many times have you heard, ‘Just wait, it’s going to get worse’? That kind of negativity can really mess with your mindset.

Speaking of mindset, let me tell you about this amazing book I’ve been reading: Laboring Like a Goddess. It’s all about reclaiming the power and beauty of childbirth. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to approach pregnancy and labor with confidence and positivity. Another book I highly recommend is The 9 Whole Months. It’s all about holistic health during pregnancy—mind, body, and spirit. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to create a healthy pregnancy experience.

So, let’s talk about my first trimester. If you’ve ever read a pregnancy book or watched a movie, you’ve probably been told that the first trimester is all about nausea, exhaustion, and just feeling… off. But here’s the thing—that wasn’t my experience at all. I worked out five days a week, ate exactly the same as I always did, and had no lethargy. Honestly, I started to wonder if I was even pregnant! I even caught myself trying to *make* myself feel nauseous because everyone said I *should* be feeling that way. Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth: pregnancy is not a one-size-fits-all experience. We’ve been conditioned to believe that certain symptoms are ‘normal’ or ‘expected,’ but that’s not always the case. In fact, I started to think about the placebo effect—how just telling someone ‘you’re supposed to feel nauseous’ can actually make them feel nauseous. Crazy, right?

When I shared my pregnancy news on Christmas, my brother-in-law jokingly said to my husband, Mike, “Watch out for the mood swings!” And honestly, I was pissed. Not because I was hormonal, but because it’s this kind of commentary that perpetuates stereotypes.

Here’s the thing: exercise helps with mood swings. It helps with so many pregnancy symptoms. It all comes down to how you take care of yourself. In the 20 years I trained women, I always emphasized preparing their bodies for pregnancy. The ones who were already fit tended to have smoother pregnancies, while those who weren’t as healthy often faced more challenges like gestational diabetes or excessive weight gain. So yes I am going to say that being active made my first trimester a beautiful experience.

Lie #2: Eating for two

Alright, let’s talk about the common misconception of eating for two. Escúchame bien: There’s no evidence that you need to eat for two when you’re pregnant. I mean, unless you’re carrying a future linebacker, your baby is the size of a blueberry in the first trimester. I heard I was going to be extra hungry and I wasn’t at all. And so far, in the second trimester, I have not felt any changes in my appetite. I will share my recap of second trimester in future videos.

The average woman needs about 1500- 2000 calories a day depending on height and weight and in the first trimester, you don’t need any extra calories—hear that again, nada, zero. I have seen past clients make it an excuse to indulge in their eating addiction by saying they need to eat for 2 but it is absolutely false.

Especially if your BMI is 30 or higher. Fun fact: I was considered ‘overweight’ at a BMI of 25. ¿En serio? Like, who decided that? Now, in the second and third trimesters, you might need a few extra calories, again ONLY if your BMI is under 30, but we’ll dive into that in future videos, so make sure you subscribe to my channel to see those videos.

In general, overeating is bad for both you and your baby. What’s important is eating a healthy, balanced diet. My appetite has been exactly the same. If you’d like to see a full ‘What I Eat in a Day’ as a pregnant woman, let me know in the comments down below.

Now, here’s a fun fact. In Mexico, where my family is from, there’s this belief that you should give into your cravings—because if you don’t, your baby will be born with the face of whatever you’re craving. Tendrá cara de aguacate, helado, o lo que sea. So, if you’re craving ice cream, they’ll tell you to eat the ice cream. ¡Es para el bebé! Haha, just kidding!

But seriously, cravings are not always for food. Yes, your body is telling you that it needs something, but It’s not about eating whatever you, want whenever you want. Its more about listening to your body and finding balance. If you’re craving something sweet, maybe it’s your body asking for energy. I have strawberries for those moments. If you’re craving something salty, maybe you need electrolytes. Try drinking water with some lemon. The key is to build healthy habits and your body will then be satisfied with your healthy choices.

So, mamas, don’t stress about eating for two. Focus on nourishing yourself and your baby with a balanced diet, and staying active. I am not saying don’t ever eat that ice cream, but I personally set a goal to celebrate each trimester with a special treat. At the end of my first trimester I allowed myself a slice of pizza and an In-n-Out burger with milkshake. I will let you know what I give into at the end of my second trimester in future videos. My “why” for the discipline is my baby’s health. That purpose has given my fitness journey a whole new power of discipline.

Lie #3: You won’t want to exercise because you’ll be so tired

¡Ay, por favor! Let me tell you something—this one couldn’t be further from the truth for me.

In my experience, after 20 years of exercising consistently, I didn’t experience that first-trimester fatigue everyone warns you about. Why? Because once exercise is a habit, nothing can change that. It’s like brushing your teeth—you just do it.

As a retired fitness trainer, one of my priorities during pregnancy has been to keep moving. Regular exercise isn’t just good for me; it’s great for the baby too. And guess what? Doctors actually encourage it! If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, you should aim for about 30 minutes of exercise each day. Most of the workouts you did before pregnancy are still safe—just check with your doctor or midwife if you’re unsure.

What was crazy is what I was told when I went in for my first check up though. Again proof that things have changed since our ancestors gave birth. They said since I was over 35 that I should stop exercising until an ultrasound in week 10, despite the fact that I’ve been active for over 20 years. Them trying to instill fear into me didn’t work. I listened to my body and I kept working out just using lighter weights. When I went in for my placenta size test (or whatever that test is called—honestly, I can’t keep up with all the medical terms), the doctors told me the baby was growing healthy.

But let me be clear: if you weren’t lifting heavy or doing high-impact workouts before pregnancy, now is not the time to start. I’ve scaled back on high-impact exercises, but I still do my Pelaton and lift weights, I just keep low-impact workouts. So listen to your body! If something feels off, stop. If you feel great, keep going. You know yourself better than anyone else.

Lie #4: Pregnancy is harder after 35

This one surprised me the most! The lie that pregnancy is harder after 35. You are literally considered high risk by the doctors.

And the truth is it was not harder for me at 41. It was the best first trimester. In fact, I have a friend that’s 25 who had a *way* tougher first trimester than I did. She was so sick and tired that she was on bed rest the entire first 3 months. So, this idea that age automatically makes pregnancy harder? False! It’s not about the number.

As women, we’re constantly told that our ‘biological clock’ is ticking from the moment we can have children. There’s this fear instilled in us that we have to hurry up and settle down before ‘our time is up. Why are we made to feel like our worth is tied to a timeline? Who made this timeline? The fact is, God has a timeline for us, not man.

Looking back on my life and reflecting on my first trimester, I feel nothing but gratitude for the way my life unfolded. In my 20s and 30s, I traveled, built my career, and enjoyed my freedom. And you know what? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to have kids in your 20s or 30s—or at any age, really. Everyone’s journey is different. There’s no right or wrong way to do this.

If I had believed the myths, maybe I would’ve felt pressured to have kids sooner. But seeing friends in their 20s who had children with birth defects shifted my perspective. It made me realize that what’s meant to be will be. Some women settle because of the pressure to have kids young, but my advice? Trust your higher power. Don’t rush your story.

If you need a reminder, go watch the movie Forrest Gump again and pay attention to the feather and its journey. Yes I believe we all have a destiny but we don’t have to work that hard to get there. We naturally float to our destiny if we allow our higher power to lead us and not fear.

Let go of the fear and trust the process. And if you go watch the movie, come back to this video and let me know what you thought!

I don’t regret waiting until 41 to have my first baby. I’m so much more mature now. In my 20s and even part of my 30s, I was broke. Like, ramen-noodle-dinner broke. Now, I’m in a place where I can provide for my baby, and that’s such a blessing.

I actually found a time capsule letter I wrote years ago, saying I wanted to be married and pregnant by 26. ¡Qué locura! Looking back, I’m so glad life didn’t go according to that plan. It went so much better!. Being older has its perks—I’m more patient, more grounded, and honestly, it’s almost easier in some ways (as long as you take care of yourself!).

If you’re over 35 and thinking about having a baby, don’t let anyone scare you. Your journey is yours alone. Trust your body, take care of yourself physically and mentally, trust your timing, and know that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. God’s plan is always perfect.

Emotional Journey

The thing I will say was hard for me in the first trimester was the emotional rollercoaster of just being pregnant. If you remember, we tried for 3 years and had accepted it wasn’t going to happen, so I had different things planned for this year. Now all that was going to change.

One of the hardest things for me was realizing that my freedom would be shifted for a while. I mean, I’ve always been someone who does what I want, when I want. But now? It’s not just about me anymore. It’s a sacrifice, for sure—letting go of that ‘maiden self’ and stepping into this new role of mother.

And let’s be honest, I freaked out about the weight gain. I’m a fit woman, and seeing the scale go up was not easy. There were moments of anxiety, fear, and self-doubt—thanks, hormones! Plus, external pressures didn’t help. Like, why do movies make labor look so scary?

But then, the excitement and joy of becoming a mom hit me too. The gratitude for an easy pregnancy so far. My mood has been fantastic, and I’ve been journaling to process all these emotions. And let’s not forget my amazing, supportive husband. Gracias, amor. Having someone to support me through this process has been such a blessing.

Of course, there were worries too—miscarriage, complications, all the what-ifs. I had to remind myself that the odds are in my favor. Did you know that the chance of a successful pregnancy after 40 is more than 98%? It’s all about perspective.

We realized what a miracle this pregnancy was, especially since we found out right after we got married. I think about friends in my age group who’ve struggled, and it reminds me how precious this journey is. I mean, the chance of even being born is like winning the lottery. ¡Es un milagro!

And then there were the little things. Like how I wanted a boy at first, or how I wanted a baby three years ago. Or the fear of not having enough time with the baby. And don’t even get me started on people projecting their opinions—‘Just get the epidural’ they say.

But here’s the thing: I’ve learned to cope. Resting and listening to my body has been key. So has seeking support from my partner, “certain friends, and a doula. I’ve been practicing mindfulness, journaling, and praying more. And, of course, exercise has been my saving grace for managing both physical and emotional challenges.

If you’re in your first trimester, here’s my advice: Don’t believe everything you hear. Protect your mind and spirit. If you surround yourself with moms who only share horror stories, it can really mess with your mental health. Take care of your diet and exercise—it’ll make your pregnancy easier and your bounce-back smoother.

Embrace the uniqueness of your experience. It’s okay to feel a mix of emotions—both positive and negative. Feel your feelings, good and bad. Don’t run away from them. Celebrate the small milestones, like hearing the baby’s heartbeat for the first time.

So, if you’re in your first trimester right now, just know—your experience is yours, and no one else’s. Some days might be tough, some might surprise you, and that’s okay. If you’ve gone through the first trimester, I’d love to hear—what’s one thing that totally shocked you? Drop it in the comments so we can help other moms feel less alone in this journey. And if this blog helped, don’t forget to like, subscribe to my channel, and share—Thanks for letting me hang out with you today! See you next time!