Attila

Statement for 05/20......... Still gun-shy

Let me guess.. as the cutoff nears you feel your hands are tied as you need it to come back over to avoid the call.. M6E or even NQ can let you breathe more than ES. A sub $500 account probably better to swing trade initially like M6E. The closeness to margin complicates an already difficult business. I feel your pain..

Statement for 05/19.......

My stop are trailing (B/E at 5pts) and automatic so completely out of my hands and therefore my risk is known.. My current risk level prevents me from going past 1 unit but I know scaling out some to satisfy my greed and keeping a runner is an excellent solution.

Very good question as I did quite well as a swing trader and got into futures probably the wrong way, thinking daytrading is the only way to go... I will return to swing trading as soon as I can comfortably do so but I love a challenge..

MMS.. Unfortunately I can barely stay awake if money is not risked.... Automating exits.. didn't think that could be automated as it would have to consider volatility as a fixed 10pt target in March is a 25pt target in NQ now.. I think until the trader changes he or she will override whatever the safeguard is, short of a remote, broker controls.. and if a trader needs that he/she should go do something else.. Good monitor trick.. good to hear I am not alone.. Thanks..

Have tried it a bit but I don't get far:) I think I will keep an errand list handy and take off.. I am sure the results will be significantly better.. Douglas has this 20 trade exercise in his Trading in The Zone book where you do this exact setup 20 times without fail as a way to break a habit like mine.. Plus one can never really know how good a system really is until it is used consistently.. Funny thing is my wife is the absolute opposite.. She'll hold a trade to eternity until wiped out and believes we have different views on the meaning of money. Higher volatility definitely doesn't help. Will try the 20 trade run with a key rule of no manual exiting a trade first 30 mins and report back here..

For me there is anxiety in my trading.. likely due to small account.. I say "likely" because when I traded with more I still had the same feelings... Last 2 weeks have been the worst.. I pick trades VERY well and I mean very well.. Today I got NQ at 1851 and change.. Gap fill and ES at 1100 were the reasons.. at that point it was a VERY quick break-even trade with a first target of 1975 or so.. 60 seconds later, I am out at 57 and change.. I have a log requiring 30 minutes minimum hold but I ignore it as soon as the trade is on. Fine to be scalper but I know my system generates a lot more than scalps.. YET EVERY time once I am in the trade I am someone else.. Someone that simply refuses to accept the possible loss required to make profits.. I am almost in more agony when in profit than loss... I seriously need help.. I have all the books, I should meditate.. etc.. My only solution may be to have someone else that is aware of my exit rules manage my trades.. Easily 200 to 300 NQ points squandered when there was no heat at all... Seems so simple to simply force myself to hold for 30 mins no matter what (worst I lose 3pts).. do that for a week and slowly build up from there,, but one or two stop outs and I immediately revert to micromanaging and mentally thinking.. "see that's why this market must be watched all the time"

Statement for 5-18........

fxThunder... Hurry and make another trader to change that ending balance... could mean you'll be at 1200 or so in no time..

1: DO NO PREDICT (a.k.a. having a BIAS not based on what is actually happening) Today trading NQ I figured once past 1920 1940 and 1950 were a given.. I got long 1922 and allowed an 11 pt gain become 1pt gain.. Went long again 1919.25.. this time a 6 pt gain became a 1.75 loss... Went long 1894 for an 8 pt gain a few minutes later.. Point is once I had that 1922 entry I KNEW I would have an EASY 10 to 20 points to 1940/1950.... I had decided I WAS GOING LONG whether NQ liked it or not. If I hadn't predicted due to the daily channel and my emotions I would have reaped 30 POINTS in the other direction.. My system was screaming short on the 1920 break but I COULD and WOULD not see due to my premarket bias...

Statement for 5_17... misread markets and gun shy..

Friday close statement.. 1180.35. Will do the Sunday Noon update from here on..

Ok I am in.. started with 1k even

You guys realize the very volatility needed to even sniff 1mil is the same volatility a small account should avoid?.. May give it a shot..