The key to getting into really great shape is determined by the amount and condition of lean muscle tissue on your body. The more toned muscle you have the more fuel (calories) you burn both when you are exercising and when you are resting. And you cannot get in this sort of great shape without strength training exercise.
A proper strength training exercise program is what is needed to reconstruct lost muscle mass and speed up the body's metabolism (fat burning machinery). Any long slow endurance type activity should be completely discarded.
Strength training exercise will keep your muscle tissue in good shape, stoking your metabolism, getting you lean and keeping you youthful and healthy. With your lower body fat percentage and higher ratio of muscle tissue your body will be healthier and look great too - strong, lean, toned and sleek and more athletic like.
.It is important that you have help from a fitness professional to reverse this 'skinny fat' syndrome. You need a program that is monitored and changed regularly so you get good results. You also need to learn the correct level of intensity (degree of effort) to perform them at. As you may have been doing low to moderate levels of intensity with your 'cardio' you may have to kick things up a notch or two.
Being in good shape is more than looking skinny in a pair of tight jeans. The real test comes when you put on your shorts or be willing to expose an upper arm or leg. And when you have a strong, lean, toned healthy body you will have no problem doing this. In fact you will be proud to show off your brand new 'in shape' body for all to see.