[budman]

Andrew,

if I were you, I would only be trading one contract at a time. When you've been profitable for few months, move up to two etc. Paper trading is not the same. You need money on the line to experience your real emotions.
If I could start over, this is what I would have done.

I started with 2 contracts. After a few winning trades I jumped to 4 etc. Within weeks I was trading 20 contracts...big mistake. I lost so much money because I thought I knew what I was doing. Looking back, I would have been much better off if I stayed with one contract for a few months while learning this business. After all, it is a business.