For how long did you paper-trade or simulation-trade BEFORE your first live trade?

I probably sim-traded for about just 2 months when i started a few years ago.

In the beginning of my career, almost a year. Back then sim accounts weren't as easy to get, so it was literally 'paper' trading. I would test my set-ups at night after working my day job.

Still use my IB sim account to test new set-ups.

i started 2 days in sim to practice the dom, and went live, that was 1,5 years ago, i almost lost everything, now, i am test in sim since 4 month ( i am taking it as it is real, and to build something that i have confidence)and this days i am starting to go live back again to try the real problems: mind responses to live money