Introduction:Recently, a Luckin Coffee employee shared on social media their experience of losing 38 catties (approximately 19 kg) in just one and a half months after starting the job, sparking widespread discussion and imitation among netizens. Is this “paid weight loss” under high-pressure working conditions, or a warning sign of potential health risks? This article delves into the intensity of the work, dietary habits, daily routines, and physical changes involved, while examining the pros and cons of this unconventional weight loss method.
Recently, an employee working at Luckin Coffee posted comparison photos of their physique before and after joining the company on social media, showing that they had lost a striking 38 catties in just one and a half months, drawing significant attention from many users. According to their own account, due to a severe shortage of staff at the store, they had to work continuously for 13 to 14 hours a day with an extremely fast-paced workflow. They often couldn’t eat meals on time, sometimes too busy to eat even when hungry, and when there was finally a short break, they felt too exhausted to have an appetite. Under such intense physical and mental strain, their weight rapidly declined, and by the time of the interview, their total weight loss had exceeded 45 catties.
Such astonishing weight loss results not only elicited envy from many netizens who have long struggled with weight issues, but also attracted other Luckin employees with similar experiences to share their own stories. They mentioned that during their time at Luckin, aside from losing weight, they also developed noticeable muscle definition in their arms from frequently lifting coffee beans, milk, and packaging materials. Some even said that long-standing issues with hunchback posture were improved. “Never stepped foot in a gym, all my muscle was built at work,” “Used to slouch all the time, but standing all day at Luckin actually fixed my posture.”
Seeing these before-and-after photos shared by the staff, especially the visible arm definition and transformation in their overall demeanor, many netizens began jokingly referring to it as “this isn’t a job, it’s basically paid fitness,” with some even expressing envy and a desire to try it out themselves. One commenter wrote: “You get to earn money and save on gym membership fees — it’s like getting double the return for one paycheck,” “After seeing this, I want to work at Luckin too,” “Maybe I’ll take up a part-time weekend job to try it.”
However, some netizens have raised doubts and concerns about this phenomenon, believing that the extreme weight loss is actually a result of frequent promotional campaigns by food delivery platforms, leading to a surge in orders. Employees are thus forced to endure excessively intense physical labor. Social media discussions reveal that major delivery platforms have recently launched various low-cost or even zero-yuan promotions, triggering a wave of excessive consumer orders. This has caused an explosive increase in order volume at Luckin stores, often leaving hundreds or even thousands of orders piled up in the system backend, forcing staff to continuously improve their beverage preparation efficiency under intense pressure.
According to multiple current and former employees, during non-promotional periods, a store typically prepares around 200 to 300 drinks per day. But during peak delivery surges, this number can easily skyrocket to over 1,000 drinks, nearly doubling the workload. Even more overwhelming is the fact that during peak hours, many employees have no time to eat or drink water, and sometimes are even forced to work overtime. With long hours of standing, constant lifting, frequent operation of coffee machines, and constant packing, although the physical exertion is immense, it can also easily lead to poor nutrition and bodily imbalance.
While outsiders might think that “getting paid to lose weight” at Luckin seems like a win-win situation, experts warn that rapid weight loss achieved through extreme work intensity and irregular eating habits often comes with potential health risks. These include malnutrition, muscle strain, digestive system disorders, chronic fatigue, and psychological stress. For those considering a career as a barista or hoping to lose weight through work, it is advised to carefully evaluate their physical condition and prioritize long-term health over short-term weight changes.
In summary, while the case of a Luckin employee losing 38 catties in one and a half months is certainly eye-catching, it reflects deeper, more complex issues such as fierce competition among delivery platforms, understaffed stores, and the mental and physical pressure faced by employees. If the goal is healthy weight loss, it is still recommended to rely on scientific dietary habits and moderate exercise in order to achieve sustainable and safe body management.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
