There are probably as many ways to fast as there are ways to pray, bu these four ideas are a starting point:
1. Normal Fast
In this kind, a person goes without food for a predetermined amount of time --- 1 day, 3 days, 1 week or longer. Water is allowed and necessary of course. Extreme care should be taken with long fasts, especially if there are any underlying medical conditions. It is wise to consult your physician if you are planning on embarking on a long fast.
2. Partial Fast
This fast allows certain foods, or is on a schedule that includes limited eating, possibly one meal or two meals a day, or only eating vegetables for several days. Daniel and John the Baptist followed this sort of fast, while John Wesley ate only bread and water for many days as his fast. This is a better option for those who cannot do a water fast.
3. Juice Fast
This is the same as normal fast in 1 above, except the one fasting also eats fresh vegetables or drinks fruit juice.
4. Object Fast
Some people decide to fast on something completely unrelated to food, such as TV or computer time. This is a very commendable type of fasting also. There are very valid reasons to choose this sort of fast, but for the rest of this article series we will deal with food.
Source: BUCCI's Becoming Intimately Dependent on God booklet
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