november done.
full recovery achieved.
back to sept peak.
final week november (nov 27-28) #
monday 11/27: 3 trades, 3 wins. +$1,420
tuesday 11/28: 3 trades, 2 wins. +$980
week 4 total (2 days): +$2,400
november final numbers #
starting balance (nov 1): $339,080
ending balance (nov 28): $362,560
november gain: +$23,480 (+6.92%)
september peak: $362,120
exceeded sept peak by: +$440
full recovery achieved.
Figure 1: November recovery from $339k to $362k. Recovered from Oct bottom ($334,780) and exceeded Sept peak ($362,120). 6-week systematic recovery at 84% win rate.
monthly breakdown #
week 1 (nov 2-7): +$3,800
week 2 (nov 8-14): +$4,150
week 3 (nov 15-21): +$8,180
week 4 (nov 22-28): +$7,350 (short week thanksgiving)
total: +$23,480
original target: +$5,000
beat target by: 4.7x
Figure 2: Weekly profit breakdown for November. Week 3 highest at $8,180 after ramping to full 0.5% risk. All weeks beat pro-rated target ($1,250/week). Consistency across all four weeks.
win rate november #
total trades: 67
wins: 56
losses: 11
win rate: 84%
profit factor: 3.6
average R-multiple: 2.4
best month since starting real money trading.
strategy performance #
mean reversion:
- 41 trades, 36 wins (88%)
- net: +$16,840
- primary edge
momentum:
- 26 trades, 20 wins (77%)
- net: +$6,640
- secondary edge
Figure 3: Strategy performance breakdown. Mean reversion dominated with 88% win rate and $16,840 profit (72% of total). Momentum secondary at 77% win rate. Both strategies profitable, proper allocation.
comparing disaster to recovery #
sept 24 - oct 10 (disaster period):
- -$28,000 in 2 weeks
- 12% win rate
- emotional chaos
- oversized positions
- ignored stops
- revenge trading
oct 19 - nov 28 (recovery period):
- +$28,700 in 6 weeks
- 84% win rate
- stable routine
- proper position sizing
- stops enforced
- systematic execution
exact same strategies.
difference: mental stability.
what changed #
environment:
disaster: alone, chaotic, no sleep, no routine
recovery: living with A., stable schedule, consistent sleep
execution:
disaster: emotional sizing, ignored rules, revenge trading
recovery: systematic sizing, followed rules, no revenge
mindset:
disaster: desperate to recover, each loss = panic
recovery: patient process, each loss = data point
the living together factor #
moved in: nov 1 (beginning of recovery month)
correlation: undeniable
why it works:
- wake up same time daily (4am)
- breakfast together after trading (10am)
- separate workspaces (no interference)
- dinner together (7pm)
- routine locked in
- emotional support when needed
- she doesn’t need me to be perfect
first time stability = performance.
position sizing progression #
nov 1-15: 0.25% risk per trade (conservative recovery)
nov 16-30: 0.5% risk per trade (full size)
result: consistency maintained at both levels
december plan: stay at 0.5% risk baseline
filters saved me #
blocked trades november: 47
estimated saves: ~$8,000
passing 70% of potential setups.
only taking A+ entries.
patience = preservation.
therapy insight #
dr. r (last week): “you’ve recovered your account. how do you feel?”
me: “relieved. but also scared.”
dr. r: “scared of what?”
me: “fucking it up again. september disaster was brutal.”
dr. r: “what’s different now?”
me: “everything. routine. A. living with me. not alone anymore.”
dr. r: “and if you have a losing month?”
me: “…i don’t know.”
dr. r: “that’s the work. trusting the system when it’s not working. staying stable through volatility.”
she’s right.
recovered account = phase 1.
maintaining through drawdowns = phase 2.
december challenges ahead #
holiday season:
light volume (dec 24-jan 2 really dead)
choppy markets
fewer quality setups
parents’ death anniversary:
dec 31 = 1 year since they died
already feeling it build
going to be emotional
psychological risk:
overconfidence from recovery
taking bigger risks
loosening discipline
december plan #
trading:
maintain 0.5% risk per trade
expect lower win rate (market conditions)
reduce trading last 2 weeks december (holidays)
target: +$5k month (conservative given conditions)
psychological:
3-loss circuit breaker active
no revenge trading
maintain routine
anniversary:
dec 31 = no trading that day
take time to grieve
A. will be there
reflection on november #
started month: living alone, account down $23k, desperate to recover
ended month: living with A., account recovered, stable routine
key insight: stability enables performance
what worked:
- moving in together = routine
- 0.25% risk ramp = confidence building
- filters = preservation
- therapy = processing grief
- A. = emotional support
what didn’t work:
nothing. everything worked.
first month where every piece aligned.
looking ahead #
december: lower expectations, holiday season, anniversary approaching
january: fresh start, new year, consistent baseline
long-term: avoid september disasters, monthly consistency
tonight #
sitting at desk.
account at $362,560.
recovered from $334,780 bottom.
+$28,000 recovery in 6 weeks.
A. asleep in bedroom.
apartment quiet.
first time since parents died that everything feels… stable.
3:20am wednesday. november done. +$23,480 (+6.92%). full recovery achieved. 84% win rate. beat target by 4.7x. first month everything aligned. december starting. holiday season ahead. anniversary approaching. maintaining stability = new challenge.
-AK