Small town, small budget meal replacement/protein issues.

I have regained about 30lbs since my surgery in December 2010 and I would like to lose it and continue on my journey towards my goal weight. My only issue is that in my very small town in Northwestern Ontario Canada, protein powders/meal replacements are either non existent or VERY expensive. I was thinking about maybe doing Carnation Instant Breakfast, mixed with skim milk powder and water. NSA Instant Breakfast is not available anywhere here and the Canadian dollar is far too low to be ordering from the US.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I feel really stuck with my options and my budget.  Thanks!

Honestly?  Don't even bother with protein drinks.  Get back to eating dense proteins instead.  Make sure to weigh and measure out what you are eating.  The dense protein will keep you fuller longer than a protein drink and it will get the weight loss rolling again. 

Oh and make sure you are drinking plenty of water.

Look at eggs, chicken, beef, fish, pork with some no starchy veggies.  You can do this.

I will give it a try. Our meat and produce cost a small fortune here right now unfortunately which is why I wanted to do the shakes. But anything worth doing properly is worth the cost though!

I still struggle with this.  I just can't eat alot of heavy dense protien.  Chicken is cheap,  and easy.  And hurts my pouch.  I just feel like I've eaten rocks.  But fish works for me.  I just don't like the taste of fish.  Lol.  I buy the frozen cod.  I cook a whole bunch and freeze in little portions.  That way if I'm out and about for a day I pack some in a ice chest I keep in my car with water and crystal light.  I also buy those bags of precooked frozen shrimp.  Those are so easy to thaw and toss into a little salad, or chopped up into a tuna salad type thing I do in a tomato.  And tuna is easy.  Pouches,  canned,  whatever.  Red meat is really tough on me.  I feel weighed down and sluggish after I eat it.  Mini meatloafs or meatballs you can add to things.  I buy what's on sale and cook then freeze,  I guess is what I'm trying to say.  Lol.  I hope that gives you some ideas.  I also live in a small town,  and food options are hard.   

I agree with previous poster. It's all about dense protein and veggies, but if you want to supplement, there are some products available from Costco.ca. Canadian currency and no additional shipping costs. A Costco membership is required so if you don't have one you may want to see if a friend can order for you. 

Vegetables must be hard to grow up there on the tundra, and expensive. There's likely lots of good caribou, elk, and reindeer though, right?

Year round frozen tundra produces nothing green, but like you I'm primarily a protein lover lol.  Ice flows produce another great protein product but I can't say it out loud because I'll get in trouble. 

Add - oh and I killed Rudolph last year

Nothing green? Sounds like you have soylent green.

Thanks for Rudolph. That damn light always woke me up.

Yeah, Rudolph was overrated anyway. Soylent green comes in many flavours. My new fav is Grim Grey-Green. mmmmm

I'm told I am sweet.