Small town, small budget meal replacement/protein issues.
You live in a beautiful area of Ontario - rugged but so gorgeous.
Are you near Kenora? , as I see you have Winnipeg listed as your area.
Regain is tough - and getting it off is even tougher. I would like to echo the posters who advise against relying too much on protein powders and shakes. Saying this - I often have a shake first thing in the morning as I just cant stand the thought of real food that early ( I rise between 4:30 and 5 most mornings)
Pre-packaged meals - shakes - are often more expensive then real food. Ground beef when on sale - chicken thighs as another poster suggested. Pork products are a great deal - even pork tenderloin is inexpensive and you can make it last a few meals.
Dense protein is your friend - along with lots of water. Shakes will not keep you full at this stage of the game. Canned tuna is another good option.
I appreciate the issues if you have a specific budget and are in a small isolated town ( not sure how isolated you are), but I can tell you from experience that drinking shakes and adding protein powder is not the answer.
Good luck
This thread is an awesome example of ways to be successful in the long term. I love the support given on this board. As White Dove said, adding protein shakes to your diet is an excellent way to gain weight - a terrible idea for someone who is past their honeymoon period.
Savvy shopping is the key to protein on a budget - the price increase in meat is shocking. Here in Colorado, hamburger is $9 per pound, but ground chicken breast can be found at $5 per pound and if I see it on a BOGO, I stock up my freezer. Maybe a monthly trip to your next big town is worthwhile - I have to drive to my supermarket and drive to Costco monthly to pick up on their monthly offers.
The most successful people I know stick around on OH, giving and receiving support because their head is in the game. It's how we know of what we speak.
Good luck in losing your regain and getting to goal.
I am 12 YEARS out from my RNY surgery. Last year I regained 40 lbs. I was able to take it off easy enough by going back to basics. It just works. I eat protein, veggies and very little carbs. Don't forget to drink your water. When I do use a protein shake I use Atkins. Some people don't like it but I do. Just remember you get more bang for your buck when you use real food vs. a shake.
Good luck. Let the surgery do its work for you.
