I'd like to hear about anyone's experiences with fasting. Has anyone tried more extended periods, perhaps 3 days to a week or longer? I have seen some videos on youtube of people fasting. At one point I think it would be interesting to try a 3 day fast, because that seems achievable, safe and not too extreme!
I must admit that (like a lot of modern people!) I have a bit of an issue with attachment to food and greed. I am trying to combat this with mindful eating, and attempting to keep uposathas. The reason I'm attracted to these practices (of fasting and 'Vikalabhojana') is that I am trying to regain a healthier relationship with food. I want to find more time for dhamma practice and all the other important things in my life, instead of spending so much of my time cooking and eating.
Here is part of a desana by Ven. Maha Bua (which you can find here http://www.luangta.com/English/site/audio.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; [15 of Aug. 1979] - 'Difference between Study and Practice') which I have transcribed. He talks wisely about what benefits fasting might have for someone inclined to it.
"When you fast, that is the time when you really concentrate and intensify your efforts in your practice. Your exertion is then far more strenuous than it would normally be. When one fasts or reduces the quantity one eats then this is the means of getting one's mindfulness or sati to become more nimble. For one who finds that fasting suits his character, then when he does it in his practice of bhavana he will become very quick and easy, much more so than when he eats regularly. But if one's character is not suited to this method then it is really detrimental because it will just cause one to become concerned or worried about food turning one's exertion into Sañña Aramana and one will not be exerting in the true sense. This is when one finds that fasting doesn't suit one's temperament.
For one who finds it suitable to his character then his body will become light, the citta will become quick, nimble and alert. When one strives in the way of samadhi one's mindfulness will be very good and one will not be disturbed by sleepiness. So one can really see that the cause of sleepiness is just from eating a lot of food. After one has fasted for two or three days then drowsiness will not bother one anymore. No matter how long one sits, one will sit erect like a post and if one establishes calm of the citta it will enter into it readily. There is nothing to bother one's heart. And then when one goes in the way of pañña it will flow very easily turning round and round and round. This is when it suits one's character.
Regardless of what level of citta bhavana or dhamma one is in, the means and techniques of practice, like fasting for instance, if it suits one's character, will always aid and promote one's progress. But if they do not suit one's character then they will always be contrary to, or going against one's practice of the Way."
Sorry if this post is way too long-winded, maybe I have introduced too many thoughts?
Anyway, thanks for reading would appreciate your thoughts
Peace 
