Types of Fasting

There is no right or wrong way to fast, and it bothers me to hear or read people say that unless you are water fasting, it is not a true fast. That is so wrong!!  There are several different types of fast and no matter which type of fast you decide to do, if it is listed below - it is indeed a fast.   All of the methods of fasting below have proven benefits, you just have to decide which one is best for you.

Water fast - No food, no coffee, no juice - Just Water.  It is best to drink the purest, cleanest water you can find. Most sights and fasting advocates suggest distilled water.  A water fast can last anywhere from 1-40 days. I've even read about people doing 60 day water fasts.

Absolute Fast - Absolutely no food or water . This type of fast is also known as "dry" fasting.Dry fasting is the hardest type of fast to complete- both physically & emotionally. Dry fasting in my opinion, is not for a beginner.

Partial Fast - Abstinence from certain kinds of foods (i.e.: No meat or sweets, soup only, fruit and vegetables only, etc. In Daniel 10:3, Daniel ate no pleasant bread).  This type of fast is also known as the Daniel Fast because it originates from Daniel in the bible.

 Juice Fast - Fruit and vegetable juices only. Juice fasting is a popular type of fast because of it's ability to provide the body with vital nutrients & antioxidants while at the same time detoxifying the body. Juice fasting requires a juicer, plenty of fresh fruits & vegetables and the willingness to prepare your juice daily. I love juice fasting, but it is the most time consuming and the most expensive type of fast - in my opinion. But, it's benefits are well worth the time & effort.

Intermittent fasting:is a pattern of eating that alternates between periods of fasting (usually meaning consumption of water only) and non-fasting.  There are many different ways to intermittent fast, one of the most common ones is to fast for 18 hours, then eat and repeat. 

I've done water fasting, partial fasting, juice fasting and intermittent fasting. For weight loss, I would choose between water & juice fasting or a combination of juice & water fasting, because they gave me the quickest weight loss results and after the first 3-4 days, the hunger goes away. In addition to weight loss, I was pleased with the other benefits of water and/or juice fasting. 

And, since fasting originates in the bible, here are several links that discuss them more in depth.

http://www.faithcycleministry.org/Fasting/Fasting4.html

What does the bible say about fasting?

Examples of fasting in the bible & reasons people fast