Personally I have had some success this year using intermittent fasting / calorie restriction for weight loss, I've lost 30lbs this year and kept it off even after returning to normal eating many monthes ago.

I'm also a bit interested in the spiritual side of fasting and know many religions use it in a variety of ways.

I am familiar with the tradition among Theravadan monastics to fast every day after noon until the next morning . . from my understanding this is part of their precepts and stems from ancient tradition perhaps as far back as the time of Buddha's.

Any one familiar of any information on this topic and how it relates to Buddhism or Zen ?