Neither Martin Luther nor John Calvin opposed fasting. But both criticized Catholic fasts for what they saw as their legalism and works-righteousness. They were convinced that Catholics were trying to earn their salvation by fasting and performing other disciplines. (This was not Church doctrine. Augustine had dispatched Pelagius’s view of works-salvation a thousand years before. Still, Calvin and Luther’s charge is understandable given the corruption of the times.) Both allowed that fasting, rightly framed, could be good. And many Lutheran and Reformed groups did fast.
