$recent_posts = wp_get_recent_posts( array( 'numberposts' => '1' ) );
    $thePostID = $recent_posts[30]['ID'];
    $popular = new WP_Query(array(
                    'posts_per_page'=>3,
                    'post__not_in' => array($thePostID),
                    'meta_key'=>'popular_posts',
                    'orderby'=>'meta_value_num',
                    'order'=>'DESC'
                ));
    while ($popular->have_posts()) : $popular->the_post();