is there any way i can only send data to ableton if i physically turn the pot?
The potentiometer is connected all the time. You read it all the time. There is no way of determining whether the potentiometer is being moved. You can, though, keep track of the last reading that resulted in a message send, and only send another message if the reading changed significantly. (You get to define what significantly means; don't make it too small, though.)