When teachers help students see connections between mathematical concepts and real life it can increase students' interest and learning in mathematics. Physical activity is also a part of daily life; therefore, Health and Physical Education (HPE) is a particularly rich subject area that mathematics teachers can capitalise on to show students how mathematics connects to the real world. This article is written for teachers of mathematics (including out-of-field teachers) in the secondary years who may be unaccustomed with the HPE curriculum. Specifically, a discovery and problem-based pedagogical method is used that enables students to explore a task that demonstrates the richness and variety possible when an integrated curriculum approach is taken. In this paper the authors explain how mathematics complements HPE and discuss the tangible learning, real-world outcomes and opportunities available. Specifically, the authors present an example problem from the pedagogical program STEMfit, which provides a pathway for students to learn STEM subjects by using and analysing personally obtained data in different physical activity contexts to encourage mathematical learning. Innovative approaches to mathematics lessons can help students understand how to use mathematical language so that they can connect ideas logically.