How should I fast?

One thing that abounds around Lent is the various explanation of what the requirements, the delineations, and the minimums of fasting are. After all, fasting appears several times in the Bible (both in the Old and New Testament) in relation to our Lord - perhaps most notably for Christians, when the Lord Himself fasts for 40 days in the desert. The Syriac Fathers speak of fasting as the way to conquer the devil that our Lord gave us by His own example - but they also emphasize fasting is not simply not eating. If fasting were simply not eating, it would be no different than a starvation diet. But the purpose of fasting is to remove the bodily distraction of food, focus on prayer, the poor, and virtue.

The following traditional diaconal litany sung during the Fraction expresses that well:

My brethren, let us fast purely and let us break our bread with the needy. Let us bring the foreigner into our houses and clothe the naked!

O Faster, take your bread and give it to the needy and widows that God be pleased with your fast and accept your prayer!

Along with fasting, give alms. Let there be no guile in your heart for whoever betrays his neighbor, his fast angers God.

The mouth which fasts from bread but is accustomed to curses is vain in its work and its petition is unacceptable.

O Christ the King, Your worshippers have offered You prayer and fasting; accept them in Your compassion and forgive their faults.

O Lord, accept the fast of Your Church and may her prayer enter before You. Be pleased and have mercy on the sinners who call to You.