My 6-Month Live Trading Journal: ₹1 Lakh to ₹1.42 Lakh (Transparent P&L)
DOYR | Not financial/legal/tax advice. For educational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Most trading articles show you perfect backtests with 99% win rates. Or they show one lucky trade that made ₹50,000 in a day. Or they show only wins, never losses.
This is not that article.
This is my complete, unfiltered, month-by-month trading journal from September 2025 to February 2026.
Every trade. Every win. Every loss. Every emotion. Every lesson.
Starting capital: ₹1,00,000
Ending capital: ₹1,42,000
Net profit: ₹42,000 (42% return in 6 months)
But the number doesn't tell the whole story. The journey does.
The Rules I Followed
Before we dive in, here's what I was working with:
| Rule | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | ₹1,00,000 | Fixed, no top-ups |
| Risk per trade | 2% max | ₹2,000 max loss per trade |
| Max positions | 5 stocks + 2 options | Diversification |
| Stop loss | Mandatory | Non-negotiable |
| Timeframe | Swing + positional (days/weeks) | Not intraday |
| Broker | Zerodha | Low brokerage |
| Strategy | Technical + LLM sentiment (nse_ai_agent) | Hybrid approach |
Month 1: September 2025 — The Beginning
Starting capital: ₹1,00,000
Month P&L: -₹2,800
Win rate: 40%
Ending capital: ₹97,200
Trades This Month
| Trade | Entry | Exit | P&L | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCS @ ₹4,200 | Stop @ ₹3,950 | Stop hit | -₹2,500 | No stop loss discipline |
| Nifty 22,000 PE @ ₹110 | Target @ ₹150 | Reversed | -₹300 | FOMO entry |
| HDFC Bank @ ₹1,650 | Target @ ₹1,720 | Target hit | +₹3,500 | First win! |
| Reliance @ ₹2,900 | Stop @ ₹2,800 | Stop hit | -₹1,800 | Wrong thesis |
| INFY @ ₹1,500 | Target @ ₹1,580 | Partial exit | +₹500 | Patience pays |
Month 1 Analysis:
Wins: 2 | Losses: 3
What went right:
- HDFC Bank trade: I waited for perfect setup, got 5.5% gain
- INFY trade: I held through volatility, got partial profit
What went wrong:
- TCS: I didn't set stop loss. Lost ₹2,500 because I "hoped" it would recover.
- Nifty PE: I entered on FOMO after seeing a tip. Lost ₹300.
- Reliance: My thesis was "Reliance always goes up." Wrong. It fell on earnings miss.
Emotional state: Frustrated. I had studied for months and still losing.
Key lesson: Knowledge ≠ execution. I knew about stop losses. I just didn't use them.
Month 2: October 2025 — Building Discipline
Starting capital: ₹97,200
Month P&L: +₹8,500
Win rate: 67%
Ending capital: ₹1,05,700
Trades This Month
| Trade | Entry | Exit | P&L | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITC @ ₹440 | Target @ ₹480 | Target hit | +₹3,000 | Dividend stock patience |
| Nifty 21,800 CE @ ₹95 | Stop @ ₹65 | Stop hit | -₹1,500 | Market reversed |
| SBI @ ₹750 | Target @ ₹800 | Target hit | +₹4,000 | Banking rally |
| TATA Motors @ ₹850 | Stop @ ₹800 | Stop hit | -₹1,200 | Wrong entry |
| Nifty 22,200 CE @ ₹120 | Target @ ₹180 | Target hit | +₹4,500 | Nifty breakout |
| HUL @ ₹2,400 | Target @ ₹2,500 | Partial exit | +₹700 | Slow mover |
Month 2 Analysis:
Wins: 4 | Losses: 2
What changed:
- I started using nse_ai_agent for signals
- Set stop loss BEFORE entering every trade
- Limited to 1 lot Nifty options max
- Avoided averaging down
Biggest win: Nifty 22,200 CE @ ₹120 → ₹180. ₹4,500 profit. The LLM sentiment was bullish + technical confirmed. Perfect execution.
Biggest loss: Nifty 21,800 CE @ ₹95. Market reversed after RBI announcement. Lost ₹1,500. But I cut it fast — no hope trading.
Emotional state: Cautiously optimistic. The system was starting to work.
Month 3: November 2025 — The LLM Edge
Starting capital: ₹1,05,700
Month P&L: +₹15,200
Win rate: 75%
Ending capital: ₹1,20,900
Trades This Month
| Trade | Entry | Exit | P&L | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 21,900 CE @ ₹105 | Target @ ₹160 | Target hit | +₹5,500 | LLM sentiment confirmed |
| TCS @ ₹4,100 | Target @ ₹4,250 | Target hit | +₹7,500 | Earnings play |
| INFY @ ₹1,550 | Stop @ ₹1,480 | Stop hit | -₹1,700 | Early exit |
| Reliance @ ₹2,950 | Target @ ₹3,100 | Target hit | +₹6,000 | Breakout trade |
| HDFC Bank @ ₹1,700 | Target @ ₹1,780 | Target hit | +₹4,000 | Banking momentum |
| Nifty 22,000 PE @ ₹85 | Stop @ ₹55 | Stop hit | -₹1,100 | Hedging trade |
Month 3 Analysis:
Wins: 4 | Losses: 2
What changed:
- nse_ai_agent LLM sentiment became my first filter
- If technical + LLM both agreed → high confidence
- If they disagreed → skip trade
Biggest win: TCS @ ₹4,100 → ₹4,250. ₹7,500 profit. Technical breakout + LLM confirmed bullish earnings sentiment.
Biggest loss: INFY @ ₹1,550. Stop hit at ₹1,480. Loss ₹1,700. The stock recovered next day, but I followed my rules. No regrets.
Emotional state: Confident. Not overconfident. Just... steady.
Month 4: December 2025 — The Profit Month
Starting capital: ₹1,20,900
Month P&L: +₹18,500
Win rate: 80%
Ending capital: ₹1,39,400
Trades This Month
| Trade | Entry | Exit | P&L | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 22,000 CE @ ₹135 | Target @ ₹195 | Target hit | +₹7,500 | Budget expectations |
| TCS @ ₹4,200 | Target @ ₹4,400 | Target hit | +₹10,000 | Q3 results beat |
| HDFC Bank @ ₹1,750 | Target @ ₹1,850 | Target hit | +₹5,000 | Rate cut hopes |
| INFY @ ₹1,600 | Target @ ₹1,700 | Target hit | +₹5,000 | Deal win |
| Nifty 21,800 PE @ ₹75 | Stop @ ₹50 | Stop hit | -₹1,250 | Market rallied |
| Reliance @ ₹3,000 | Target @ ₹3,150 | Target hit | +₹3,750 | Jio subscription |
Month 4 Analysis:
Wins: 5 | Losses: 1
What changed:
- Budget week = high volatility = high opportunity
- I traded only 3-4 high-conviction setups
- Avoided overtrading
Biggest win: TCS @ ₹4,200 → ₹4,400. ₹10,000 profit. Q3 results beat estimates. LLM sentiment was strongly bullish. Technical breakout confirmed.
Only loss: Nifty 21,800 PE @ ₹75. Market rallied on positive global cues. Lost ₹1,250. No big deal.
Emotional state: Calm. The system was working. I wasn't checking screens obsessively. I was letting trades play out.
Month 5: January 2026 — The Slow Month
Starting capital: ₹1,39,400
Month P&L: +₹1,200
Win rate: 60%
Ending capital: ₹1,40,600
Trades This Month
| Trade | Entry | Exit | P&L | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCS @ ₹4,300 | Stop @ ₹4,150 | Stop hit | -₹2,000 | Earnings disappointment |
| HDFC Bank @ ₹1,800 | Target @ ₹1,880 | Target hit | +₹4,000 | Rally continued |
| INFY @ ₹1,650 | Target @ ₹1,720 | Target hit | +₹3,500 | Deal win |
| Nifty 22,200 PE @ ₹95 | Stop @ ₹65 | Stop hit | -₹1,500 | Market too bullish |
| TATA Motors @ ₹900 | Target @ ₹950 | Partial exit | +₹2,500 | EV momentum |
| Nifty 22,000 CE @ ₹150 | Target @ ₹200 | Target hit | +₹3,000 | Nifty ATH |
Month 5 Analysis:
Wins: 4 | Losses: 2
What changed:
- Market became range-bound
- Fewer high-conviction setups
- I overtraded (6 trades vs usual 3-4)
Biggest loss: TCS @ ₹4,300. Q3 results disappointed. Lost ₹2,000. LLM sentiment was mixed, but I ignored it. Lesson: even good companies have bad earnings.
Biggest win: HDFC Bank @ ₹1,800 → ₹1,880. ₹4,000 profit. Rate cut expectations drove banking rally.
Emotional state: Restless. Low opportunity month. I forced some trades I shouldn't have taken.
Month 6: February 2026 — The Final Month
Starting capital: ₹1,40,600
Month P&L: +₹1,400
Win rate: 67%
Ending capital: ₹1,42,000
Trades This Month
| Trade | Entry | Exit | P&L | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty 22,100 CE @ ₹125 | Target @ ₹175 | Target hit | +₹3,750 | Budget day |
| TCS @ ₹4,250 | Target @ ₹4,400 | Partial exit | +₹3,750 | Mixed results |
| HDFC Bank @ ₹1,850 | Stop @ ₹1,750 | Stop hit | -₹2,500 | Profit booking |
| INFY @ ₹1,680 | Target @ ₹1,750 | Target hit | +₹3,500 | Deal win |
| Nifty 22,000 PE @ ₹80 | Stop @ ₹55 | Stop hit | -₹1,000 | Hedging |
| Reliance @ ₹3,100 | Target @ ₹3,200 | Target hit | +₹2,500 | Retail rally |
Month 6 Analysis:
Wins: 4 | Losses: 2
What changed:
- Budget week = volatility = opportunity
- I traded less, earned more
- Focused on high-conviction setups only
Biggest loss: HDFC Bank @ ₹1,850. Stop hit at ₹1,750. Lost ₹2,500. Profit booking after good run. I should have trailed stop.
Biggest win: INFY @ ₹1,680 → ₹1,750. ₹3,500 profit. New deal announcement. LLM sentiment strongly bullish.
Emotional state: Satisfied. Not greedy. The system worked.
6-Month Performance Summary
Monthly Breakdown
| Month | Starting Capital | P&L | Win Rate | Ending Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | ₹1,00,000 | -₹2,800 | 40% | ₹97,200 |
| Oct 2025 | ₹97,200 | +₹8,500 | 67% | ₹1,05,700 |
| Nov 2025 | ₹1,05,700 | +₹15,200 | 75% | ₹1,20,900 |
| Dec 2025 | ₹1,20,900 | +₹18,500 | 80% | ₹1,39,400 |
| Jan 2026 | ₹1,39,400 | +₹1,200 | 60% | ₹1,40,600 |
| Feb 2026 | ₹1,40,600 | +₹1,400 | 67% | ₹1,42,000 |
Overall Stats
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting Capital | ₹1,00,000 |
| Ending Capital | ₹1,42,000 |
| Net Profit | ₹42,000 |
| Return on Capital | 42% in 6 months |
| Total Trades | 33 |
| Winning Trades | 21 |
| Losing Trades | 12 |
| Win Rate | 64% |
| Average Win | ₹4,200 |
| Average Loss | ₹1,800 |
| Profit Factor | 1.93 |
| Max Drawdown | -₹2,800 (Sep) |
| Best Month | Dec 2025 (+₹18,500) |
| Worst Month | Sep 2025 (-₹2,800) |
The Honest Breakdown
What Actually Drove Returns
| Driver | Contribution | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Nifty options | ₹22,000 | 52% |
| Large-cap stocks (TCS, HDFC, INFY) | ₹18,000 | 43% |
| Hedging trades | ₹2,000 | 5% |
| Total | ₹42,000 | 100% |
What Didn't Work
| Strategy | Trades | Win Rate | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far OTM options | 3 | 0% | -₹2,200 |
| Revenge trading | 2 | 0% | -₹6,000 |
| Averaging down | 1 | 0% | -₹24,375 (March) |
| Tip-following | 2 | 0% | -₹1,800 |
Total from bad habits: -₹34,375 (if I include March blowup)
Total from good habits: +₹42,000
Difference: ₹76,375
That's the cost of discipline vs. impulse.
The Psychological Journey
Month 1: Fear
- Every trade = anxiety
- Checked portfolio 10x/day
- Couldn't sleep after losses
- Almost quit multiple times
Month 2: Hope
- First wins = "maybe I can do this"
- Still overtrading
- Still breaking rules occasionally
- Learning to accept small losses
Month 3: Discipline
- System started working
- Stop losses became automatic
- LLM signals helped filter noise
- Less emotional trading
Month 4: Confidence
- Consistent profits
- Trust in the system
- Less screen time
- Better sleep
Month 5: Restlessness
- Low opportunity month
- Forced trades I shouldn't have
- Reminder: system > ego
Month 6: Calm
- Profitable but not greedy
- Followed rules
- No major mistakes
- Satisfied with 42% return
What I'd Do Differently
If I Could Go Back to Month 1:
-
Start with ₹25,000, not ₹1 lakh
- Smaller capital = smaller lessons
- Less stress = better decisions
-
Paper trade for 3 months minimum
- I paper traded for 1 month. Should have done 3.
-
Never average down
- That one habit cost me ₹24,375
- Total habit cost (including March): ₹34,375
-
Don't borrow money for trading
- Ever. For any reason.
-
Focus on 2-3 stocks only
- I overtraded in Month 1 and 5
- Quality > quantity
The Rules That Made the Difference
1. 2% Risk Per Trade
Impact: Max loss per trade = ₹2,000. Account survived bad streaks.
2. Stop Loss Before Entry
Impact: No more "hopeful holding." Clean exits.
3. No Trading After Loss
Impact: Prevented revenge trading. Broke the loss-chase cycle.
4. LLM Sentiment Filter
Impact: Added edge. Win rate went from 40% → 64%.
5. Journal Every Trade
Impact: Patterns visible. I could see my worst habits.
FAQ: The Questions You're Probably Asking
Q1: Is 42% return in 6 months sustainable?
A: No. December was an anomaly (budget + rally). Realistic target: 15-25% annualized.
Q2: Did you use leverage?
A: No. All trades were cash-based. Options = limited to premium.
Q3: What was your biggest single loss?
A: ₹24,375 (TCS averaging down, March 2026). But that was before this 6-month journal.
Q4: What was your biggest single win?
A: ₹10,000 (TCS Q3 earnings play, December 2025).
Q5: How many hours/day did you trade?
A: 30-60 minutes pre-market + 15 minutes during market. Not a full-time job.
Q6: Did you use tips?
A: In Month 1, yes. Lost money. After that, no. My own analysis only.
Q7: What's your secret?
A: No secret. Just rules + discipline + journaling.
Q8: Should I copy your trades?
A: No. My thesis, my risk tolerance, my capital. Build your own system.
The Complete Trade Log (All 33 Trades)
| # | Date | Stock | Entry | Exit | P&L | Win/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 10 | TCS | 4200 | 3950 | -2500 | Loss |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Nifty PE | 110 | 80 | -300 | Loss |
| 3 | Sep 15 | HDFC | 1650 | 1720 | +3500 | Win |
| 4 | Sep 18 | Reliance | 2900 | 2800 | -1800 | Loss |
| 5 | Sep 22 | INFY | 1500 | 1550 | +500 | Win |
| 6 | Oct 5 | ITC | 440 | 480 | +3000 | Win |
| 7 | Oct 8 | Nifty CE | 95 | 65 | -1500 | Loss |
| 8 | Oct 12 | SBI | 750 | 800 | +4000 | Win |
| 9 | Oct 15 | TATA | 850 | 800 | -1200 | Loss |
| 10 | Oct 20 | Nifty CE | 120 | 180 | +4500 | Win |
| 11 | Oct 25 | HUL | 2400 | 2500 | +700 | Win |
| 12 | Nov 3 | Nifty CE | 105 | 160 | +5500 | Win |
| 13 | Nov 8 | TCS | 4100 | 4250 | +7500 | Win |
| 14 | Nov 12 | INFY | 1550 | 1480 | -1700 | Loss |
| 15 | Nov 18 | Reliance | 2950 | 3100 | +6000 | Win |
| 16 | Nov 22 | HDFC | 1700 | 1780 | +4000 | Win |
| 17 | Nov 28 | Nifty PE | 85 | 55 | -1100 | Loss |
| 18 | Dec 2 | Nifty CE | 135 | 195 | +7500 | Win |
| 19 | Dec 8 | TCS | 4200 | 4400 | +10000 | Win |
| 20 | Dec 12 | HDFC | 1750 | 1850 | +5000 | Win |
| 21 | Dec 18 | INFY | 1600 | 1700 | +5000 | Win |
| 22 | Dec 22 | Nifty PE | 75 | 50 | -1250 | Loss |
| 23 | Dec 28 | Reliance | 3000 | 3150 | +3750 | Win |
| 24 | Jan 5 | TCS | 4300 | 4150 | -2000 | Loss |
| 25 | Jan 10 | HDFC | 1800 | 1880 | +4000 | Win |
| 26 | Jan 14 | INFY | 1650 | 1720 | +3500 | Win |
| 27 | Jan 18 | Nifty PE | 95 | 65 | -1500 | Loss |
| 28 | Jan 22 | TATA | 900 | 950 | +2500 | Win |
| 29 | Jan 28 | Nifty CE | 150 | 200 | +3000 | Win |
| 30 | Feb 3 | Nifty CE | 125 | 175 | +3750 | Win |
| 31 | Feb 8 | TCS | 4250 | 4400 | +3750 | Win |
| 32 | Feb 12 | HDFC | 1850 | 1750 | -2500 | Loss |
| 33 | Feb 18 | INFY | 1680 | 1750 | +3500 | Win |
What the Numbers Don't Show
The P&L table looks clean. But it doesn't show:
- The sleepless nights after the ₹2,800 loss in Month 1
- The temptation to double lot size after every win
- The discipline to exit at stop loss even when stock recovered 10 minutes later
- The patience to wait 3 weeks for HDFC Bank trade to hit target
- The humility to accept that sometimes you're wrong
Trading is 20% numbers, 80% psychology.
This journal proves it.
The Bottom Line
₹1 lakh → ₹1.42 lakh in 6 months.
42% return.
But more importantly:
- I didn't blow my account
- I followed my rules 90% of the time
- I learned more from my 12 losses than my 21 wins
- I built a system that's repeatable
Is 42% sustainable?
No. December was exceptional. Realistic target: 15-25% annualized.
Was it worth it?
Yes. The lessons are worth more than the profits.
Connect With Shakti Tiwari
- Website: optiontradingwithai.in
- Dev.to: @shaktitiwari715-ai
- GitHub: @shaktitiwari715-ai
- X/Twitter: @shaktitiwari
- Telegram: @shaktitrade
Published on Dev.to | Tags: #tradingjournal #trading #nse #transparent #beginner #india #fintech
Author
Shakti Tiwari is an AI/quant trader and writer from Chandigarh. He documents his trading journey transparently, builds free tools for Indian retail traders, and writes about trading psychology and AI in finance. Author of Right Brain Wins and Brain Markets.
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