Bodily fasting means nothing without the spiritual fasting of the inner man, which consists in guarding from the passions. This fasting of the inner man is pleasing to God, who will reward you for the lack of the physical fasting.
Do everything with reasoning and determine your own measure, so then you will not be discouraged. Acting over your strength in mercifulness, fasting and everything else is unreasonable, because it later leads to confusion, despair and self-pity. God only requires of what is according to the strength of man.
Venerable Barsanuphius the Great
