That may be the case for Stacie Pointer, one of the 2010 Durham Fitness Challenge winners. Three weeks into the challenge, Pointer hasn't lost any weight. Her body mass index is the same. But her muscles, especially her triceps, feel tighter, she said.

"I feel like I'm doing really good, although my body's not liking it," she said following her Sept. 13 assessment.

Pointer and two other challenge winners are getting help setting fitness goals, and planning workouts and meals over the next three months.

The challenge is sponsored by the David Turner Lymphoma Foundation, named for a Durham resident who was diagnosed at 24 with Stage IV lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. The Durham News is following the participants' progress. This is Week 5.

Hinkle has seen clients have similar problems starting their weight loss; it's different for everyone. He even had one client who followed her exercise and nutrition guidelines for three months before seeing any physical results, he said.

Muscle also weighs more than fat, so that may be contributing to the delay, said Craig Long, Pointer's personal trainer.

Just in case, Long is stepping up the challenge with a workout Pointer can do at home using minimal or no equipment. That's in addition to her two-day-a-week training schedule and a group circuit class.

Hinkle also reminded her that it's important to stick to the nutrition plan, especially since she didn't sign the challenge's deeper commitment pledge.

"Give up my beer? Are you kidding," she said.

The pledge, which many of the challenge's boot camp participants signed, also forbids sugary foods, soft drinks and fried foods.

Pointer said she hasn't had any problems sticking to the other dietary requirements, although it's still hard to fit in six regular meals and snacks every day.

Besides a full load of classes this semester at N.C. State University, the 28-year-old graduate student is working as a research assistant for her business professors. She dropped one class so she could fit in more exercise, Pointer said.

She's also been trying to walk as much as possible, especially now that she's a new "dog parent" to her adopted lab mix, she said.

Long promised her that more intensive workouts lie ahead. It may tough, but she's keeping her sense of humor.

"I told somebody the other day, a good trainer makes you dread coming," she said.