How often should one fast at other times of the year to experience the same benefits as during Ramadan?

In order to retain the benefits of Ramadan during the remainder of the year, one must fast three times per month. After a month of fasting the body only requires a few days a month to help remind itself of Ramadan and help retain the concentration learnt throughout the Holy month.

What is the significance of the fasting times? What is the significance of Sahar and Iftar?

“The Glory of God is in purifying, when ye reach eventide and when ye rise in the morning; yea, to Him be praise, in the heavens and on earth; and in the late afternoon and when the day begins to decline” (Holy Qur’an, 30:17,18)

During Ramadan the individual attempts to slowly reduce the concentration from the physical level, to concentrating on the more delicate aspects of their being. When one eats, energy becomes focused on the stomach. However, during Ramadan, the individual can concentrate the energy once used on digesting food to other aspects of their being. From the break of day until sunset the body gradually learns throughout the month to focus that energy on prayer and becoming closer to the Beloved. We fast from Sahar (sunrise) to maghreb (sunset) in which 4 of our prescribed daily prayers are included, then after sunset there is still one prayer after we break the fast and before fasting commences again, which allows us to remind the body of the discipline we’re commanding it to learn, and throughout Ramadan the body learns to retain the discipline and focus. Through the day, as we fast, we are now able to concentrate more on the tasks at hand, on ourselves on matters that we come face to face with, as we learn to direct our minds away from our physical body, our stomach, to what needs our concentration. And so the significance of Sahar and when we iftar (sunset) is in that during those times we are most active and in need to be fully present and aware, and through this strict timetable we have the chance to take hold of this physical body that we are meant to control and not be controlled by. Sahar is especially significant in that we are showing that we can break away from what we normally ‘devote’ a large part of our day/life to which is sleep and dedicate that time to God. In the Holy Qur’an it has been stated about the sunrise prayer “Truly the rising by night is most potent for the governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the World (of Prayer and Praise)” (Holy Qur’an 73:6). ‘Because, in addition to the overpowering of the carnal self, illness resulting from sleeplessness especially old age, is unavoidable.’ Al Salat.